Chances are you’re just dehydrated and your body is telling you you need to drink more water….CONTINUE READING
It could also mean you’re breathing through your mouth at night or it could be linked to stress, smoking or your diet.
But in some cases, a persistently parched mouth
could be a sign of serious illness, according to Dr Azad Eyrumlu from dental firm Banning Dental Group.
Dry mouth is typically known as xerostomia, which basically means there is a lack of saliva in your mouth.
Saliva helps to control bacteria levels, and also balances and washes away acid around teeth and gums.
Dr Eyrumlu
said: “A dry mouth can be a sign something’s not right elsewhere. This can manifest itself with symptoms such as a sticky feeling in the mouth, a dry or sore throat, difficulty chewing or swallowing or even bad breath.
“Certain health conditions such as a stroke, diabetes or Alzheimer’s disease can show themselves in this way, while these symptoms can also be an indicator of an autoimmune disorder such as HIV or Sjogren’s syndrome,” he added.
He said it was important to speak to GP
if your dry mouth won’t go away.
Here we go into further detail about what your cottonmouth could be a red flag for.
People with diabetes
are often susceptible to dry mouth because of high glucose levels in their blood and saliva, Diabetes.co.uk
said.
This will also predispose them to yeast infections such as thrush, the charity added.
According to Stroke Association
, it’s common to have swallowing problems after a stroke.
These can give you a dry mouth and lead a bad taste to settle in there.
You’re also more likely to get infections in your mouth if you don’t have enough saliva.
If you’re having swallowing problems, the charity recommended you speak to a speech and language therapist.
Mouth sores and cankers are common in HIV sufferers, as is a dry mouth.
This is because the virus can cause the salivary glands to swell, leading to reduced saliva production.
Dry mouth can also be a side effect of HIV medications, according to Medical News Today.
According to Alzheimer’s Association
, people with the condition might often forget to hydrate properly or practice good oral hygiene, leading to cottonmouth.
This is a long-term condition that affects parts of the body that produce fluids, like tears and spit, most commonly affecting people between 40 and 60.
Aside from dry mouth, other symptoms include:
See a GP if you have these symptoms and they are bothering you, the NHS said.
There are a few things you can do to ease your dry mouth:
You should avoid drinking lots of caffeine or fizzy drinks and eating acidic, spicy, salty or sugary foods.
It’s best to also steer clear of smoking. If you think a prescribed medicine is causing your dry mouth, don’t stop taking it without getting medical advice first.
You can get gels, sprays and lozenges to moisten your mouth at your pharmacy….CONTINUE READING