What is XEROSTOMIA ?
Xerostomia is defined as dry-mouth and is often associated with hypofunction of the salivary glands resulting from reduced or absent saliva flow. It may happen due to various medical conditions, a side effect of a wide variety of medications or a side effect of Cancer treatment – radiotherapy to the head and neck can damage the salivary glands, resulting in less saliva being produced.
Saliva And Its Importance..
Saliva contributes to the digestion of food and to the maintenance of oral hygiene. Without normal salivary function the frequency of dental caries, gum disease (gingivitis and periodontitis), and other oral problems increases significantly.
Lubricant
Saliva coats the oral mucosa, mechanically protecting it from trauma during eating, swallowing and speaking. In people with little saliva (xerostomia), soreness of the mouth is very common, and the food (especially dry food) sticks to the inside of the mouth.
Digestion
The digestive functions of saliva include moistening food and helping to create a food bolus. This lubricative function of saliva allows the food bolus to be passed easily from the mouth into the esophagus. Saliva contains the enzyme amylase, also called ptyalin, which is capable of breaking down starch into simpler sugars such as maltose and dextrin that can be further broken down in the small intestine. Only about 30% starch digestion takes place in the mouth cavity. Salivary glands also secrete salivary lipase to begin digestion. Salivary lipase plays a large role in digestion.
Role in taste
Saliva is very important in the sense of taste. It is the liquid medium in which chemicals are carried to taste receptor cells (mostly associated with lingual papillae). Persons with little saliva often complain of dysgeusia (i.e. disordered taste, e.g. reduced ability to taste, or having a bad, metallic taste at all times).
Other Roles
- Saliva maintains the pH of the mouth. Saliva is supersaturated with various ions. Certain salivary proteins prevent precipitation, which would form salts. These ions act as a buffer, keeping the acidity of the mouth within a certain range, typically pH 6.2–7.4. This prevents minerals in the dental hard tissues from dissolving.
- Saliva secretes carbonic anhydrase (gustin), which is thought to play a role in the development of taste buds.
A common belief is that saliva contained in the mouth has natural disinfectants. Researchers have discovered that human saliva contains some antibacterial agents as secretory IgA, lactoferrin, lysozyme and peroxidase which helps in cleaning the wound by removing larger contaminants such as dirt and may help to directly remove infective bodies.
Saliva contains EGF. EGF results in cellular proliferation, differentiation, and survival. EGF is a low-molecular-weight polypeptide first purified from the mouse submandibular gland, but since then found in many human tissues including submandibular gland, parotid gland. Salivary EGF, which seems also regulated by dietary inorganic iodine, also plays an important physiological role in the maintenance of oro-esophageal and gastric tissue integrity. The biological effects of salivary EGF include healing of oral and gastroesophageal ulcers, inhibition of gastric acid secretion, stimulation of DNA synthesis as well as mucosal protection from intraluminal injurious factors such as gastric acid, bile acids, pepsin, and trypsin and to physical, chemical and bacterial agents.
Other Ways To Overcome Dry Mouth:
- Limit your caffeine intake because caffeine can make your mouth drier.
- Don’t use mouthwashes that contain alcohol because they can be drying.
- Stop all tobacco use if you smoke or chew tobacco.
- Sip water regularly.
- Avoid using over-the-counter antihistamines and decongestants because they can make your symptoms worse.
- Breathe through your nose, not your mouth.
- Avoid sugary or acidic foods and drinks because they increase your risk of tooth decay.
- Brush with a fluoride toothpaste — ask your dentist if you might benefit from prescription fluoride toothpaste.
- Use a fluoride rinse or brush-on fluoride gel before bedtime. Occasionally a custom-fit fluoride applicator (made by your dentist) can make this more effective.
- Tab Xylitol. Xylitol helps in secretion of saliva through taste buds when secretion is impaired but when functioning gland tissues are still present. XYLITOL is recommended as a sugar substitute and is claimed not only to be non-cariogenic, but also to exhibit an anti-caries effect due to its bacteriostatic effect.
ICanCaRe Tobacco Wellness Program incorporates all the above in the digitalized protocol based intervention program by a team of experts who work with you intensively to prevent dry mouth while quitting tobacco.
ICanCaRe team of Certified tobacco Cessation Specialists and Quit Coaches work with you to make your journey smooth, easy, interesting and achievable.
ICanCaRe Tobacco Wellness Centres with its India’s first digital protocol based assessment process guide intervention as per requirements.
Do visit the ICanCaRe Tobacco Wellness Centres or register online by visiting our page or call ICanCaRe quit line 011-430-77695.
