Dry mouth, or xerostomia, describes an insufficient or absent flow of saliva in the mouth. Dry mouth develops as a result of improperly working salivary glands. Medications, certain diseases, radiation and chemotherapy treatments, and an injury to the head or neck can cause the glands to not work properly. Dry mouth can cause uncomfortable symptoms and it can lead to serious health problems.
Tooth Decay
Saliva has antimicrobial abilities, meaning that it can destroy organisms that cause diseases. Saliva contains substances that help to cleanse the teeth, balance the pH--the amount of acid in the mouth--and it also helps to remove food particles in the teeth, according to the Oral Cancer Foundation. An absence of saliva promotes the growth of bacteria in the mouth. People with dry mouth experience tooth decay as a result.
Mouth Infections
Saliva prevents infection in the mouth by controlling bacteria and other infectious organisms with its antimicrobial abilities. It also helps to keep the tissues inside the mouth moist and intact, or unopened. An absence or reduction in saliva can cause the tissues inside the mouth to crack and fissure. Reduced saliva along with open areas in the mouth can increase the risk for mouth infections. A fungal infection of the mouth known as thrush results from an overgrowth of Candida albicans, according to the Oral Cancer Foundation. Small amounts of Candida organisms normally live in the mouth and the substances inside saliva keep them from growing out of control. A lack of saliva can cause them to over grow, resulting in the infection. Thrush can appear as painful, red patches on the top and bottom of the tongue.
Difficulty Swallowing and Chewing
Saliva helps to moisten food and a lack of saliva makes swallowing food difficult. People with dry mouth can experience problems chewing and swallowing dry and crumbly foods, such as crackers or cereals. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research from the National Institutes of Health recommends sipping water or a sugarless drink during meals. This will substitute for the lack of saliva and it can make chewing and swallowing food easier.
Alteration in Taste
Saliva plays an important role in the sensation of taste. It helps to break down the foods that are eaten and it also keeps the tongue moist, which prevents damage to the taste buds. The taste buds send messages to the brain about how something tastes. A person with dry mouth can experience a rough and inflamed tongue with ulcers or sores on it. The damage to the tongue can cause dysgeusia, or an alteration in taste perception, according to Medical News Today.
