Dry Mouth FAQ's

	What is dry mouth?
	What are the symptoms of dry mouth?
	What are the associated complications of dry mouth?
	What are the causes of dry mouth?
	What are the current treatments for dry mouth?

What is dry mouth?

Dry Mouth (xerostomia) has become so closely associated with aging, some believe it to be a “normal” part of the aging process. It is not a “normal” part of aging.

Dry Mouth is a dryness of the mouth due to a decreased function of the salivary glands (the glands that produce saliva). While occasional dry mouth may be experienced by everyone at one time or another, the decreased flow of saliva over time can negatively impact an individual's overall health and quality of life. Over 90 million Americans suffer from dry mouth, with over 5 million experiencing severe symptoms on a regular basis.

On any given day, a healthy adult produces about 3 pints of saliva. Saliva is the body’s self-cleansing mechanism. It helps remove food, debris and plaque from tooth surfaces, which helps protect against oral diseases. Additionally, saliva neutralizes acids that cause cavities, limits the growth of bacteria, viruses and fungi, and dissolves and breaks down food. The minerals in saliva also help repair early tooth decay. Saliva also enables the chewing and swallowing of food to ensure optimum digestion of vitamins and minerals.

Decreased levels of saliva negatively impact the body's ability to perform the previously discussed functions, and can lead to more serious oral complications.

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What are the symptoms of dry mouth?

• Trouble chewing, swallowing, tasting or speaking
• Bad breath
• Impaired taste
• Sticky, dry feeling in the mouth
• Dry feeling in the throat
• Dry, tough tongue
• Dry, cracked lips and corners of the mouth
• Burning feeling in mouth
• Difficulty wearing dentures
• Mouth sores
• Oral infection

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What are the associated complications of dry mouth?

Heavy plaque and food accumulations tend to occur with dry mouth leading to an increased incidence of cavities. Therefore, it is important to make sure you:

• Brush twice a day with Orajel Patented Dry Mouth Moisturizing Toothpaste
• Floss everyday
• Avoid sticky, sugary foods
• Visit a dentist twice a year

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What are the causes of dry mouth?

Medical Conditions
Dry mouth may be caused by many common triggers. Internal triggers such as stress and depression may cause dry mouth. Dry mouth may be caused by the onset of several types of diseases including:

• Diabetes
• Parkinson’s disease
• Sjögren’s Syndrome
• HIV/AIDS

Medical Treatments - Radiation / Chemotherapy
In some cases, the treatment for a disease may damage the salivary glands or impair saliva secretion. For example, the exposure to radiation experienced by radiation therapy patients can cause permanent damage to the salivary glands, while the drugs taken by chemotherapy patients can thicken saliva causing the mouth to feel dry.

Medications
Dry mouth may also be caused by more than 500 over-the-counter or prescription medications in fourteen categories. These medications include:

• Antihistamines: Claritin, Tavist, Allegra, Benadryl, Zyrtec, Chlor-Trimeton
• Antidepressants: Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil, Wellbutrin
• Antiemetics: Transderm-Scop, Compazine
• Antianxiety: Valium, Ativan, Xanax, Librium
• Antiacne: Accutane
• Antihypertensives: Lopressor, Vasotec
• Antiinflamatories: Motrin, Naprosyn
• Antipsychotics: Haldol, Clozaril
• Bronchodilators: Alupent, Atrovent, Ventolin
• Decongestants: Sudafed
• Diuretics: Dyazide, Lasix
• Muscle Relaxants: Flexeril, Norflex
• Narcotic Analgesics: Demerol, MS Contin
• Sedatives: Halcion

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What are the current treatments for dry mouth?

Currently, people suffering from dry mouth primarily use short-term solutions delivering minimal protection, if any, against the complications associated with dry mouth. Some of these short-term fixes include:

• Constant, excessive water consumption
• Chewing Gum
• Sucking Hard Candy

If you experience chronic dry mouth symptoms you are faced with the discomfort of a dry, sticky mouth and sensitive oral tissues in your mouth. To help your mouth feel the way it was meant to:

• Avoid drinks with caffeine as caffeine can dry out the mouth
• Avoid tobacco or alcohol
• Use a humidifier at night

Use Orajel^® Dry Mouth Products for the long-lasting sympton relief and special oral care needs that accompany dry mouth. Use Orajel Dry Mouth Moisturizing Gel or Spray for long-lasting symptom relief and Orajel Patented Dry Mouth Moisturizing Toothpaste as part of your regular oral maintenance program.

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