Why is there constant dry mouth? Temporary dry mouth will pass; permanent and frequent dryness needs to be treated. Atypical factors for hypospadias are

If dry mouth occurs when you are nervous or have lost a lot of fluid, this is normal. But if the feeling of constant thirst bothers you without apparent reason, you need to see a doctor.

Typically, with the help of a feeling of thirst, the brain signals that the body is dehydrated and needs to replenish fluid losses. Normally, this sensation goes away after the water balance in the body is restored. If thirst and dry mouth constantly bother you, for no apparent reason, this is a sign of illness.

The phenomenon when you drink a lot of liquid, but cannot get drunk, is called polydipsia in medicine - it is a symptom of many diseases. Dry mouth often occurs with xerostomia, which is what doctors call the condition when the mouth does not produce enough saliva. Often these phenomena accompany each other and have similar reasons. Less commonly, xerostomia, that is, dry mouth, exists without the feeling of thirst. Simply rinse your mouth and your health will temporarily improve.

Saliva plays a big role in maintaining health oral cavity, therefore, with constant dry mouth, various problems arise:

• burning or soreness in the mouth;
• cracks and peeling on the lips;
• bad breath;
• decreased or distorted sense of taste;
• oral infections, such as oral thrush or other types of stomatitis;
• caries and gum inflammation;
• difficulty swallowing food (dysphagia);
• hoarseness of voice.

If you have dry mouth, it is important to take good care of your teeth to reduce your risk of dental disease.

Causes

Why do you want to drink?

• Dehydration- the most common reason why you want to drink. Dehydration occurs when you lose more fluid than you take in through food and drink. This is possible in hot weather or during active physical work, when you sweat a lot. Sometimes dehydration develops due to illness. Especially often, the causes of dehydration are intestinal infections with vomiting and diarrhea or other diseases with high fever, especially in children. Dehydration can greatly worsen your health, reduce performance, and cause headaches and drowsiness. Severe dehydration is dangerous to health and life. Learn more about how to protect yourself from dehydration.
• Food, especially salty and spicy may cause extreme thirst and dry mouth. Sometimes thirst is caused by simple overeating. Therefore, if you are always thirsty, remember what you ate the day before.
• Medicines, such as antidepressants, antihistamines, diuretics and some herbal medications sometimes cause dry mouth and thirst. These medications may affect your performance salivary glands, inhibiting their function, or increasing the release of water by the body. Talk to your prescriber about changing your medication if it causes you symptoms that are bothersome.
• Diabetes accompanied by polydipsia, as well as the need to urinate frequently, increased fatigue and sometimes skin itching. Dry mouth and thirst are often the first symptoms of diabetes, when a person is not yet aware of his problems. In diabetes, the body does not absorb glucose (sugar), which is needed for energy. High concentration glucose causes the kidneys to produce more urine, which increases fluid loss and makes you want to drink constantly.
• Diabetes insipidus- a rare disease associated with impaired kidney function, which begins to produce too much urine, so you constantly want to drink. The disease most often develops in children and young people and is associated either with a lack of a hormone called antidiuretic, or with a decrease in the sensitivity of the kidneys to it. The cause of the disease, for example, may be injury or a brain tumor.
• Pregnancy very often accompanied by a feeling of thirst, as well as frequent urination. Typically, these symptoms are associated with normal changes in a woman’s body during pregnancy and do not require concern. However, in in rare cases, they may indicate the development of gestational diabetes. Therefore, all women should monitor their blood sugar levels several times during pregnancy. To do this, you need to contact a antenatal clinic.

Causes of dry mouth

The causes of dry mouth can be all of the above diseases and conditions, as well as some others, which usually do not lead to the development of thirst, but only cause a desire to constantly wet the lips or oral mucosa.

• Nasal congestion with a runny nose, after nasal tamponade (see “Nosebleeds”) and in other conditions, it forces you to breathe through your mouth. As a result, the mucous membrane of the oral cavity and oropharynx becomes very dry, especially in rooms with central heating or in hot weather.
• Radiation therapy head or neck area can lead to inflammation of the salivary glands and dry mouth.
• Sjögren's syndrome- a chronic disease of the immune system, when it begins to destroy its own glands: salivary, lacrimal and some others. Symptoms include severe dryness in the mouth and nose, a feeling of sand in the eyes and lack of tears. The treatment and diagnosis of this pathology is usually carried out by a rheumatologist.
• Mumps (mumps)- an infectious disease of the salivary glands, traditionally considered a childhood infection. During illness, the production of saliva may be impaired, causing a feeling of dry mouth.

Dry mouth and thirst: what to do?

As a rule, the feeling of constant thirst and dry mouth quickly go away under the influence of treatment of the underlying disease that caused these symptoms. However, if it is impossible to get rid of the cause, or treatment requires a long time, you will need symptomatic therapy, that is, measures that can make you feel better.

For example, the following tips can help you cope with dry mouth:

• increase fluid intake— take 1-2 sips of cool water or unsweetened drinks as often as possible;
• suck sugar-free candy or chew gum- it stimulates the functioning of the salivary glands;
• hold ice cubes in your mouth- the ice will melt slowly and moisturize the mucous membrane;
• avoid alcohol(including alcohol-based mouthwashes), caffeine and smoking can all make your complaints worse.

If the above measures do not help, your doctor, often a dentist, may suggest artificial saliva substitutes. These are products in the form of gels, sprays or lozenges that moisturize the oral cavity. Saliva substitutes are used on demand, that is, when discomfort occurs in the mouth, including before and during meals.

If your dry mouth is caused by radiation therapy or Sjögren's syndrome, your doctor may prescribe a salivary stimulant, such as pilocarpine. Like all medications, pilocarpine has its own indications and contraindications, so it is not recommended to take it without a doctor’s prescription.

Which doctor should I contact if I have dry mouth and thirst?

If you are constantly thirsty and have a dry mouth, consult your doctor. generalist- therapist. He will hold primary diagnosis and will be able to name the most likely reasons for your complaints. After the examination, the therapist may refer you to specialists:

• endocrinologist - if you suspect diabetes or other hormonal problems;
• dentist - if dry mouth is caused by problems in the mouth or diseases of the salivary glands; The dentist prescribes saliva substitutes and oral moisturizers, and also deals with oral hygiene and treats concomitant diseases with xerostomia.

Choose your own good doctors you can use the NaPravku service by following the links above or visiting the section

Dryness of the oral cavity may be caused by an incipient infectious disease. Prolonged thirst, which bothers you at night, can be a symptom of diabetes and other endocrine disorders.

Main causes of dry mouth:

• Diseases of the nose. If the nasal septum is deviated or polyps are present, nasal breathing is difficult. The patient breathes through his mouth, which causes the mucous membrane to dry out. Your throat feels dry and you feel thirsty.
• Taking medications. Some medications cause drying of the mucous membranes - by-effect. Most often, dryness is observed while taking antifungal, antihistamine and sedative medications.
• Infection. Often dry mouth is the first symptom of the onset of acute respiratory viral infection or flu. If you suspect you are sick, rinse your nose immediately. This way you can prevent the development of the disease.
• Endocrine diseases. If you have diabetes or Parkinson's disease, dry mouth is quite common. This is due malfunction salivary glands, which produce secretions in insufficient quantities.
• Head surgeries. Surgical interventions can disrupt the functioning of the salivary glands or damage the nerves that are responsible for producing secretions.
• Dehydration. At heavy sweating and watery glands may produce very little saliva. After drinking water, the amount of saliva increases.

Signs of dry mouth

Signs of dry mouth:

1. Thirst, frequent urination. This indicates that the body is losing moisture. You need to try to drink more, and not water, but Regidron solution. After all, salts that are necessary for the normal functioning of the body are washed out along with water.
2. Dry throat and nose. Together with dry mouth, these symptoms may indicate a cold or acute viral infection. When a virus enters the body, it primarily affects the nasopharynx and oral cavity.
3. Cracks in the corners of the mouth, bright lip contour. When you have a dry mouth, your lips often dry out, which causes cracks to appear. Seizures often occur when the immune system is weakened due to the proliferation of streptococci.
4. Burning and dry tongue. The tongue turns red from lack of moisture. In addition, there may be a feeling of itching and burning.
5. . When the mucous membranes of the mouth dry out, an unpleasant odor may appear due to the proliferation of pathogenic microflora and putrefactive bacteria.
6. Hoarseness of voice. Due to the drying out of the ligaments, the voice may become quieter or disappear altogether.

Features of the treatment of dry mouth

There are many ways to get rid of xerostomia. If this is a symptom of some kind of illness, then it is worth curing the disease. Only after this the dryness will disappear.

Treatment of dry mouth with folk remedies

Traditional recipes against dry mouth:

• Wormwood and calendula. Gargling with wormwood and calendula is very useful. It is necessary to pour 25 drops of wormwood or calendula tincture into a glass of boiled and cooled water. You can use herbal tinctures in equal quantities at the same time. Rinse your mouth with the prepared liquid three times a day before meals. It is necessary not to eat after rinsing for 20-25 minutes.
• Vegetable oils. They envelop the mucous membrane and reduce the evaporation of saliva. To get rid of dryness, wipe your mouth with cotton wool soaked in olive oil or sunflower oil. You can put a little product in your mouth and rinse for 2-3 minutes. Spit out the oil. Repeat the procedure after meals three times a day.
• Collection of herbs. For this remedy you will need chamomile flowers, sage and calamus root. These plants need to be brewed separately with boiling water. For 230 ml of boiling water you need 10 g of herb. When the decoctions have cooled a little, they should be strained and rinsed the cavity one by one. That is, before breakfast with chamomile, before lunch with sage, and before dinner with tincture of calamus root.
• Rosehip and eucalyptus oil. You can buy them at any pharmacy. Eucalyptus oil is sold under the name Chlorophyllipt, which is a green, viscous liquid. To treat dry mouth, you should immediately drip your nose with rosehip oil, and after 15 minutes with Chlorophyllipt. Use the oils three times a day for a week. Chlorophyllipt is famous for its bactericidal properties, and rosehip oil stimulates the salivary glands.
• . Eat fresh berries 100 g per day. If it's not the season, you can use dry ones. A handful of blueberries should be poured with 250 ml of boiling water and kept in a thermos for 5 hours. When the berries become soft, you need to eat them and drink the broth.
• Mint. This plant is suitable for diabetes and partial blockage of the salivary glands. It is necessary to chew several mint leaves throughout the day. Try to do this a third of an hour before meals.
• Aloe. To treat dry mouth, rinse your mouth three times a day. Do I need to take it for one rinse? part of a glass of juice. After this, it is advisable not to eat food for 1 hour.
• Grape seed oil. Before going to bed, apply a little oil to cotton wool and lubricate your tongue and cheeks with the swab. After sleep, rinse your mouth clean boiled water and brush your teeth as usual.
• Cardamom. This remedy is used to eliminate dry mouth in Eastern countries. It is necessary to chew a cardamom pod after every meal. After this, do not rinse your mouth for 1 hour.

Treating dry mouth with medications

Review medical supplies to treat dry mouth:

1. Pilocarpine. This drug was first used for Sjögren's disease. The substance stimulates the work of salivary and sweat glands. Accordingly, sweating may increase. The drug is taken three times a day, 5 mg. The maximum daily dose is 30 mg. Treatment is continued until the body is completely restored. The drug is a stimulant, but does not solve the problem, but only relieves the symptom. After its withdrawal, the oral mucosa may dry out again.
2. Cevimelin. This is a drug based on civimeline hydrochloride. This is an analogue of Evoxac, which costs much less. The medicine also does not cure, but only reduces the symptoms by increasing the secretion of saliva. As it increases, more sweat is produced. While taking the drug, you should drink a lot of water so that the loss of fluid does not affect the functioning of the kidneys.
3. . This is a medicinal gel that is applied to the mucous membrane and increases saliva production by 200%. The drug contains chitosan, betaine, xylitol and olive oil. Prolongs the effect of toothpaste and prevents drying out of the mucous membranes of the mouth. The drug does not contain alcohol or sugar, so it can be safely used to increase the amount of saliva in diabetes mellitus.
4. Bioxtra spray. This is a spray that contains antibacterial salivary enzymes, xylitol and monosodium phosphate. Used for dry mouth syndrome. Antibacterial components of saliva prevent the formation of caries. The spray forms a thin film on the surface that prevents saliva from drying out. You can use the product as much as you like.
5. Hyposalix. This is a drug based on several salts. The spray replaces natural saliva and improves the patient's condition during keratomy. Contains potassium, calcium, sodium and magnesium chlorides. It has a salty taste and prevents the growth of bacteria in the oral cavity due to the lack of saliva.
6. Fluocal gel. Contains fluoride and prevents the development of caries. Increases salivation. The gel is used to lubricate the oral mucosa. After it is absorbed, a thin film forms on the surface of the teeth and the mucous membrane of the mouth. It prevents reproduction pathogenic microorganisms and evaporation of saliva.
7. Biotene. This gel is able to moisturize the oral cavity for a long time and prevent the evaporation of saliva. The composition of the product is significantly different from the previous ones. The basis of the medicine is silicones and polymers. They envelop the mucous membranes and help eliminate dryness. In addition, the product contains vitamins and chitosan.
8. Listerine. This is a regular mouthwash with mint and chamomile extracts. Prescribed to reduce the number of bacteria in the mouth and prevent the development of caries. The substances in the mouthwash are excellent at combating dry mouth.

• Drink plenty of water. Do not replace clean water carbonated drinks. You need more than 2 liters of clean liquid per day. Drink a glass of it in small sips. It is necessary that the intervals between water intakes be approximately the same.
• Reduce your sugar intake. Sugar causes dry mouth, so avoid sweetening your tea and coffee. Reduce your consumption of sweets and confectionery.
• Choose alcohol-free rinses. Alcohol dries out the mucous membrane of the mouth and reduces saliva production.
• Use chapstick. This will prevent the mucous membrane of the mouth from drying out and eliminate cracks in the lips. This in turn will prevent the development of streptoderma.
• Eat sugar-free candies and chewing gums. They promote salivation, which prevents the mouth from drying out.
• Drink dairy products. Be sure to include kefir, fermented baked milk and yogurt in your diet. These drinks are a source of electrolytes. They prevent dehydration of the body.
• Place a humidifier in the room. If the air in the room is humid, this will facilitate nasal breathing and prevent drying out of the oral mucosa.
• Breathe steam once a day. This is necessary to moisturize the nasal passages. It is also helpful to rinse your nose with salt water. This will make breathing through your nose easier and prevent your saliva from drying out.
• Eat vegetables and fruits during snacks. Replace sandwiches and fast food with vegetables that contain a lot of water. Celery and cucumber are ideal. It's good to eat watermelon.

Dry mouth is a common complaint when visiting any doctor. It can be a symptom of both local disorders in the oral cavity and serious diseases. internal organs. If this sensation occurs once, there is no need to worry. But complaints about constant dry mouth are a reason to visit a doctor and find out the reasons.

Common signs of dry mouth

In medical terminology, dry mouth is called xerostomia. This separate symptom, which is characterized by pathological dysfunction of the salivary glands. In simple words, with xerostomia, the process of salivation decreases or even stops. Since saliva is a natural antiseptic in the oral cavity, stopping its production is fraught with serious consequences.

What signs indicate persistent dry mouth? A person usually feels:

• dryness and roughness of the tongue, which seems to stick to the roof of the mouth;
• constant thirst;
• dryness of the mucous membranes of the lips, cracks on them;
• soreness and burning sensation in the nasopharynx;
• itching on the tongue and in the corners of the lips;
• change in taste sensations;
• difficulty chewing and swallowing food;
• hoarseness of voice.

The presence of all signs at the same time is not necessary. The constant presence of several of them is enough to suspect some kind of disturbance in the functioning of the body.

Why dry mouth occurs - possible causes

The oral mucosa reacts to any functional disturbances and pathological changes in the human body. She is the first to “meet” viruses, bacteria, microbes that seek to penetrate inside from external environment. One of the signals is dry mouth and accompanying discomfort.

The reasons for the appearance of such a symptom can be conditionally divided into two groups - unrelated and related to diseases of the internal organs. Causes of dry mouth that are not pathological in nature include:

• underuse drinking water(the daily norm for an adult is up to 3 liters);
• systematic consumption of highly salty foods;
• long-term use of medications, especially antibiotics and antidepressants;
• sleeping with your mouth open due to poor nasal breathing or weakness of the jaw muscles;
• frequent and prolonged rinsing of the mouth and throat with antiseptics;
• chronic smoking and alcohol abuse;
• age-related changes in the body (menopause, aging).

If at least one of the reasons is present, then by eliminating it, you can get rid of unpleasant dry mouth even without special treatment. Long-term use medications or smoking can permanently affect the functioning of the salivary glands.

In almost half of the cases, the cause of dryness lies in chronic or acute diseases, which people sometimes have no idea about.

Infectious diseases of the respiratory tract

ARVI, tonsillitis, influenza, dysentery due to increased temperature cause dry mucous membranes. Large fluid loss through sweating and diarrhea contribute to this.

Diseases of the salivary glands

Mumps, sialolithiasis, sialadenitis, sialostasis cause disturbances in salivation, complete cessation of secretion, inflammation and pain of the salivary glands.

Endocrine pathologies

Diabetes mellitus with impaired insulin production (type 2) or its complete absence (type 1) leads to a constant feeling of thirst, dry mouth, and frequent urination. Dry mouth may be the first sign of early diabetes or pre-diabetes.

An increase in thyroid hormones leads to a disease called thyrotoxicosis. Metabolic processes are disrupted, fluid is quickly removed from the body, which leads to tachycardia, sweating, insomnia, vomiting and constant dry mouth.

Malignant formations

Neoplasms in the mouth in most cases affect the parotid and submandibular salivary glands, which leads to disruption of the production salivary secretion. Receiving chemotherapy and radiation treatment also affect the oral mucosa, causing burning, rawness, dryness, unpleasant taste, and changes in taste.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

Gastritis, ulcers, reflux esophagitis, pancreatitis in the acute period manifest themselves as pain and digestive disorders. Side symptoms may cause unpleasant sensations in the mouth - burning, dryness, bitter and sour taste.

Systemic disorders

These include: scleroderma, Sjogren's syndrome, cystic fibrosis, Alzheimer's disease, stroke. They cause functional disorders of all human organs and systems, including the salivary glands. A person may experience dry mouth, changes in the surface of the tongue, itching of the mucous membranes, swelling of the salivary glands, viscosity of saliva, and difficulty swallowing food.

Pathological disorders in the functioning of internal organs require complex treatment prescribed by a doctor. Dry mouth in this case is only a manifestation of the disease, and therefore goes away on its own after healing.

What other symptoms accompany dry mouth?

The feeling of dry mouth rarely occurs as a separate symptom. Most often it is accompanied by several other manifestations, which together indicate the presence of pathology. The patient may complain of weakness, dizziness, coating on the tongue, bitter taste, nausea, and frequent urge to go to the toilet.

Weakness

Common nonspecific symptom, but clearly indicating health problems. It usually manifests itself against a background of dry mouth. initial stage any disease, which allows for timely treatment. What diseases can be suspected? First of all, disruptions in the work of the central nervous system, infectious diseases accompanied by intoxication. Also, weakness and discomfort in the mouth can accompany blood diseases (leukemia, leukemia, lymphogranulomatosis), especially in the case of iron deficiency anemia. Oncology and accompanying chemotherapy greatly weaken the body, so a person always feels weak.

Dizziness

A symptom indicating a circulatory disorder in the brain. As a result, coordination of movements deteriorates and it is difficult for a person to stand firmly on his feet. The body's thermoregulation is disrupted and dehydration occurs, which can result in dry mouth. This manifestation occurs secondarily and not always, therefore it is not a specific symptom of brain diseases. The doctor should be informed, first of all, about dizziness and their frequency, but do not forget to mention dry mouth in this regard.

Coated tongue

Coated tongue white usually indicates illness digestive tract: gastritis, duodenitis, reflux, ulcers, colitis. IN acute form they occur with pain, stool disturbances, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. Symptoms are often accompanied by dry mouth when there is a permanent coating on the tongue. In this case, it is necessary to treat the gastrointestinal tract pathology, and then the unpleasant sensations in the mouth will go away on their own.

Bitter taste

Bitterness in the mouth in combination with dry mucous membranes indicates a violation of the biliary system or reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus. A bitter taste usually appears on an empty stomach or immediately after eating. Diseases that lead to such a symptom are pancreatitis, cholecystitis, hepatitis, gastritis, peptic ulcer, reflux esophagitis.

Nausea

Nausea often accompanies dry mouth. Taken together, these symptoms may indicate habitual overeating or abuse of junk food. But this could also be a signal serious problems with digestion, intestinal infections, poisoning. Additionally, pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever will be present. An unambiguous diagnosis cannot be made only in the presence of nausea and dryness.

Frequent urge to go to the toilet

Frequent urination and dry mouth accompany two serious pathologies– kidney inflammation and diabetes. With kidney disease, the water balance is disrupted, which leads to constant filling of the bladder. Urine may be colored pink color due to blood impurities. With uncompensated diabetes, blood sugar rises, thirst appears, dry mouth, and the person drinks a lot. As a result, the kidneys try to remove excess fluid from the body and “drive” to the toilet. Thus, if dry mouth occurs due to frequent urination, you should immediately consult a doctor.

To make a correct diagnosis, the time of onset of dry mouth and accompanying symptoms.

An unpleasant sensation can occur exclusively in the morning, after waking up. In most cases, this indicates problems directly in the oral cavity, for example, dental disease or stomatitis. After a party the night before or sleeping with your mouth open, you may also feel dry in the morning. Too dry air in the apartment leads to overdrying of the mucous membrane. In such conditions, everything passes quickly and no longer bothers you.

A person may wake up at night with his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth. After drinking water, the condition returns to normal. Then this is a consequence of eating food before bed or dry indoor air. But if an unpleasant symptom bothers you every night, you should think about it. Most likely, this is a signal of a disruption in the functioning of the salivary glands due to disease. In this case, you need to monitor the frequency of dryness, and then consult a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

Why does it “dry” during pregnancy?

Dry mouth often indicates some kind of disease. But there is an exception, which is pregnancy. During this period, changes and restructuring occur in a woman’s body, which are accompanied by all sorts of unpleasant symptoms. In addition, most women suffer from toxicosis in the first months of pregnancy. It is always accompanied by nausea and dry mouth.

Dryness can also occur due to insufficient water consumption. Due to the pressure of the enlarged uterus on bladder have to go to the toilet often. And if you do not compensate for the fluid in the body, then dehydration occurs. It is not recommended for pregnant women to eat a lot of salty and sweet foods, which remove fluid from the body and cause a feeling of thirst.

Carrying a child in summer period creates additional problems. When it’s hot outside and in the apartment, a woman’s sweating increases and her mucous membranes dry out. Therefore, it is very important to drink plain water often and little by little. If dry mouth is temporary and appears periodically, then there is no need to worry.

You need to sound the alarm if she becomes a woman’s constant companion. This may indicate an exacerbation of chronic diseases gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidneys. You should also be careful with toxicosis later gestation of the fetus. A woman may experience severe nausea, vomiting, swelling, and increased blood pressure and body temperature. This condition in medical practice is called gestosis. During this period, there is a threat to the health of the unborn baby, so it is important to consult a doctor in time.

Treatment and prevention of dry mouth

Dry mouth seems like a completely harmless phenomenon. In fact, this is not true. At constant emergence it indicates systemic diseases or pathologies in the oral cavity. It is important to see a doctor in time, get diagnosed and cure the disease. Depending on the accompanying symptoms, you can contact a therapist, dentist, gastroenterologist, or endocrinologist.

There is simply no specific treatment for dry mouth. It is necessary to treat a disease that manifests itself in this way. But it is very worthwhile to take preventive measures. First of all, you should refuse bad habits(smoking, alcohol), which disrupt the microflora of the larynx and cause bitterness and dry mouth. Eating unhealthy foods, especially those with salt, removes fluid from the body and dries out all mucous membranes. Don't forget about daily norm water, which moisturizes not only the oral cavity, but also improves the condition of the skin and tones the entire body.

Dry mouth may be side effect from taking medications (antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, psychotropic, diuretic). If the drugs cannot be stopped, then you need to consult your doctor about changing the dosage or selecting an analogue. Usually, after completing the course of treatment, the unpleasant symptom goes away.

Everyday dryness of the mucous membrane in the morning indicates impaired nasal breathing and snoring. It is worth contacting an otolaryngologist for a consultation. The problem may be a deviated septum, polyps, or chronic sinusitis. Medication and sometimes surgical treatment may be necessary.

The feeling of dry mouth itself is rare. This is usually an indicator that the indoor air is too dry. The problem can be solved thanks to an air humidifier and proper drinking regimen.

Pregnant women need to be especially careful with this unpleasant sensation. Self-medication in this case is not allowed. When dry mouth first appears, you should consult a doctor to rule out any underlying disease.

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Reasons why your mouth gets dry at night

In medical terminology, dry mouth that occurs at night is called xerostomia. The phenomenon of dry mouth in humans can be permanent or temporary.

It all depends on what factors provoked it. It is accompanied by a sore throat, a feeling of discomfort, sticking of the tongue to the roof of the mouth, thirst, changes in taste and dry lips.

Common reasons why your mouth becomes dry at night are:

• Dehydration. The lack of water in the body is caused by hyperthermia of the body and high air temperatures. Dehydration is also the result of vomiting, diarrhea, blood loss, and burns. If a person does not drink enough liquid for the body, he may also experience dry mouth.
• Difficulty breathing. Due to blocked nasal passages during a runny nose, adenoids, and deviated nasal septum, the patient breathes through the mouth, which also provokes dry mouth.
• Adverse reaction to the use of medications. A large number of drugs can cause this phenomenon. Most often these are drugs that are prescribed for hypertension, neurasthenia, and allergies.
• Sweet or salty food. Eating such foods helps draw fluid out of cells. Therefore, thirst appears, which is accompanied by a feeling of dry mouth.
• Night snoring. People who snore during their sleep have dry mouth linings.
• Stressful situations and nervous tension. Often this feeling occurs due to stress and anxiety.
• Intoxication. Usually occurs when toxic substances enter the body, for the removal of which the body requires a large amount of fluid. This is also possible after abusing alcoholic beverages. Then, due to the formed acetaldehyde, cell death occurs. To remove them from the body, you need water.
• Low level of air humidity. It is important to remember that humidity below 40% makes you thirsty.
• Vitamin A deficiency. Its consequence is keratinization of the oral mucosa. The particles that flake off clog the salivary ducts.
• Brain damage. Due to the fact that the nervous system is affected, salivation is impaired.
• Toxicosis. Pregnant women often complain that their mouths are dry. During pregnancy, this phenomenon provokes toxicosis, accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

More information about why dry mouth occurs at night can be found in the video:

As a result of the above reasons, this condition occurs temporarily. This feeling always occurs due to the following factors:

• dysfunction of the salivary glands as a result of surgical interventions
• radiation therapy in the treatment of cancer
• menopause
• old age
• atrophy of the salivary glands due to frequent use active funds disinfection

At frequent sensations dry mouth, you should consult a doctor, because very often the cause is serious illness.

Dry mouth at night: possible diseases

Often xerostomia appears as a symptom of some pathology in the human body. Serious illnesses, which are accompanied by dry mouth at night, are the following:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Stroke
• Hypotension
• Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Anemia
• Allergy
• Stones in the salivary ducts
• Cystic fibrosis
• Mumps
• Parkinson's disease
• Brain injuries
• Alzheimer's disease
• Schergen's syndrome

In addition, there are other diseases, the symptoms of which are dry mouth:

• This symptom may indicate otolaryngological pathologies: sinusitis, rhinitis, hay fever and polyps in the nasal cavity
• If, in addition to dry mouth, there are signs such as a feeling of bitterness in the mouth, a coating on the tongue, this may indicate problems with digestive organs. Most often, such signs accompany pancreatitis, duodenitis, gastritis, as well as diseases of the gallbladder and its ducts.

To determine whether dry mouth is a sign of illness, it is important to consult with your doctor. If, after examination and tests, a specialist diagnoses a disease, then first of all it is necessary to deal with the underlying pathology. During treatment certain disease, your mouth will stop drying out.

Pathology treatment method

To get rid of discomfort in the throat and mouth, you can use the following methods:

• If there is a feeling of dryness in the mouth, you need to drink liquid. It's better to drink plain water. After other drinks, the feeling of thirst and dry mouth will often occur.
• There are also medications to increase salivation. Such medications can only be prescribed by a specialist.
• To reduce discomfort in the oral cavity, you can inhale the medicine on plant based- Vitaon.
• For better saliva production, it is recommended to suck on sour candy. Chewing gum or a fruit seed are also suitable for this.
• You can chew the ice. Chewing lemon will help in this regard.
• It is recommended to add a little chili pepper to your food, which contains a component that stimulates the functioning of the salivary glands.

Treatment with folk remedies

To get rid of dry mouth, you can perform soda-salt inhalations. To do this, take the ingredients one teaspoon at a time and pour in a liter. hot water. Covered with a towel, breathe over the steam for about fifteen minutes. It is advisable to do this procedure before bedtime.

Such inhalations can be done using a decoction of medicinal herbs. TO medicinal plants, which prevent dry mouth include:

• Chamomile
• Melissa
• Calendula

For such inhalations, you can make decoctions from one herb or collection. For a teaspoon of mixture - one glass of boiling water. It is important to remember the rules for inhalation. High temperature steam may cause burns respiratory tract.

To avoid this problem, it is advisable to adhere to the following recommendations:

• Limit consumption of salty foods and sweets.
• Drink at least two liters of fluid daily. It is better to drink slowly and in small sips.
• Quit alcoholic beverages, smoking and other bad habits.
• Carry out wet cleaning more often, ensure air humidity in the room.
• Do not rinse your mouth with alcohol-containing solutions.
• Eating fruits and vegetables is also a preventative measure for dry mouth.
• You need to brush your teeth twice a day – after waking up and before going to bed. It is advisable to do this with a product containing fluoride.

For good saliva production, Chinese sages advised making movements like when rinsing the mouth. This should be done with your mouth closed. Repeat up to thirty times. After swallowing, saliva is mentally directed to the navel area. There is an opinion that regular exercise will help avoid dry mouth.

What are the complications?

Dry mouth is somewhat dangerous condition. This pathology is fraught with complications.

The most common undesirable consequences are:

• decreased taste
• thrush
• inflammatory processes of the oral mucosa
• the appearance of ulcers and pustules in the mouth
• disorders of the digestive organs
• stomatitis
• gingivitis
• chronic tonsillitis

In addition, caries develops faster in a dry mouth. This is due to the difficulty of removing food debris. Problems also arise with the use of dentures.

tvojlor.com

Why does dry mouth occur?

There are many reasons for dry mouth. The natural hydration of the oral mucous tissues with saliva depends on many factors. A strong feeling of dry mouth can be caused either by impaired perception of the presence of saliva in the oral cavity, or by its quantitative and qualitative violation of the composition. Main reasons The appearance of dryness can be:

• Disorders of trophic processes in the oral mucosa;
• Significant changes in sensory receptors in the mucosa;
• Mechanical drying of the oral cavity with air;
• Increased osmotic blood pressure;
• Disturbances in the body's balance of electrolytes and water metabolism;
• Violations of the humoral and nervous regulation of saliva formation;
• Internal intoxication and the effect on the body of toxic elements from the external environment.

Probable diseases, which causes dry mouth:

Important: Most common cause permanent dry mouth in people of average and young when she's not there probable causes for appearance, diabetes mellitus is considered. Therefore, first, it is necessary to eliminate this problem.

When diabetes is not diagnosed, by detailing the dryness and its combination with other symptoms, subsequent diagnostic testing can be carried out.

Dryness in the morning

There are cases when dry mouth develops only in the morning. Most often this indicates problems that are associated with local symptoms or are a natural effect of external factors on the body. Dry mouth in the morning ends itself after a certain time after waking up. Since the main reason for its appearance is mechanical drying with air during night rest during mouth breathing (problems with breathing through the nose, snoring). Almost always, after abusing alcoholic beverages, dryness develops in the morning.

Dryness at night

Dry mouth at night needs to be determined in more precise detail, since the reasons for its formation are much more serious, unlike morning dryness. This is possible as usual overeating before bed or drying out the mucous membranes in the air, as well as diseases of the nervous system. At night for any person saliva production decreases, and during disturbed innervation of the salivary glands, this process is disrupted even more strongly. In some cases, constant dryness at night indicates chronic diseases of the internal organs. abdominal cavity.

Other causes of dryness

You can't just look at dryness alone. It is imperative to pay attention to other signs that sometimes accompany it. Correct definition Combinations of symptoms with dry mouth can help determine the real cause of its formation.

Weakness

When dryness is accompanied general weakness organism, then one thing can be stated: the causes of the manifestation clearly have a serious origin. Moreover, this is relevant during their constant progression. These people definitely need a comprehensive study. Because, ultimately, even the most dangerous diseases can be identified at the initial stage of their appearance, which serves as a good reason for their treatment.

Weakness that is combined with dryness, maybe when:

• toxicoses of purulent and cancer origin;
• external intoxication;
• diseases of the peripheral and central nervous system.

Viral and infectious diseases and illnesses can manifest themselves in the same way. circulatory system(lymphoma, leukemia, anemia). Cancer patients after surgery or aggressive chemotherapy may also feel weakness, which is combined with dryness.

White tongue

Doctors say about the tongue that it is a reflection of the abdominal cavity. And in fact, by the characteristics of the coating on the tongue you can learn a lot about the digestive system. As a rule, pathological data combined with dry mouth. This combination of symptoms may indicate diseases of the intestines, stomach and esophagus. Such diseases include: gastroesophageal reflux disease and reflux esophagitis, gastroduodenitis and gastritis, enterocolitis and colitis, peptic ulcer of the duodenum and stomach.

If strong painful sensations in the stomach are combined with a white coating on the tongue and dry mouth, then this is exact symptom complex illness. These diseases include stone and simple cholecystitis, appendicitis and different kinds complications, intestinal obstruction and perforated ulcer stomach, pancreatic necrosis and pancreatitis. In these cases, no improvement should be expected. Treatment must be urgent and may even require surgery.

Bitterness on the lips and in the mouth

Several mechanisms may be to blame for the appearance of bitterness, which is combined with dryness. Firstly, it may be related with dysfunction of the biliary system, secondly, with disruption of the stomach regarding the evacuation and secretion of hydrochloric acid and gastric juice. In both cases, acidic foods or bile are retained. The result of this stagnation is the absorption of their decomposition products into the blood, which can affect the quantitative and qualitative parameters of saliva.

Bitter substances are also directly deposited on the mucous membranes of the lips and membranes. Symptoms of the disease may include dyskinesia of the biliary system, chronic and acute cholecystitis, gastritis and stomach ulcers, chronic toxic and viral hepatitis, chronic diseases pancreas, which cause disruption of bile excretion.

Nausea

The combination of nausea and dryness is common. Typically, the reasons for combining them are food poisoning and intestinal infections. These pathologies can appear even before full-blown clinical picture in the form of vomiting and diarrhea. Also, nausea and dryness often appear as a result of banal overeating or errors in diet.

This combination of symptoms cannot be accurately diagnosed. Secondary symptoms such as indigestion and stool disorders and abdominal pain must also be assessed. Only one thing can be determined with certainty - the combination of dryness and nausea indicates problems with the digestive system.

Dizziness

When dizziness is added to dryness, this is always a sign of concern. Since it indicates a breakdown in the automatic mechanisms of regulation of blood circulation in the brain and its involvement in the process. It could be either at initial illness brain, which is accompanied by dizziness with dryness, or with any other diseases that cause intoxication or dehydration.

IN the latter case the manifestation of an alarming combination of symptoms appears after a direct disruption of brain function, and as a result, the inability to keep the body upright. Moreover, the procedure is violated normal discharge saliva, this is manifested by dryness. Primary changes in the body that are not related to the brain appear during a decrease in the amount of circulating blood, as a result of which its blood supply decreases. Moreover, those pathological manifestations that occur for secondary brain damage are characteristic.

Frequent urination

Frequent urination and dry mouth raises several concerns. The first of them is kidney diseases. Chronic processes inflammation of these organs is directly related to water balance, determining the amount of urine output and the feeling of thirst. The second reason is diabetes.

The mechanism of the combination of symptoms of frequent urination with dry mouth can be explained in this way. Increase in glycemia ( high sugar in the blood) leads to high blood osmotic pressure. As a result, fluid is constantly attracted from the tissues into the vascular system. An increase in the amount of fluid in the blood causes dry mucous membranes and a feeling of thirst, while forcing the kidneys to remove excess fluid from the body.

Dryness during pregnancy

The normal course of pregnancy is rarely accompanied by severe symptoms. At this time, pregnant women may have any complaints, but they all have inconsistent symptoms without disturbing general well-being. Periodic dryness during pregnancy is no exception. But when this symptom receives progressive and protracted course, then this is always a signal for alarm. It may indicate a woman’s lack of water and nutrition, or an exacerbation of a chronic disease.

But you need to worry not so much about such conditions as about possible toxicosis. If it appears during the beginning of pregnancy, then it is not very scary. However, late toxicosis (preeclampsia) constantly causes fear for the life of the mother and her child. Therefore, any pregnant woman should know that dry mouth, which is combined with vomiting, nausea, swelling and increased pressure, is the first sign of gestosis. There is no need to expect your body to improve on its own. Definitely necessary seek help from a doctor.

Since dry mouth can be the first symptom of quite serious diseases, including diabetes, you should not ignore it. If you feel it unpleasant feeling almost all the time and at the same time you don’t see what reason is causing this violation, be sure to conduct a detailed examination and determine the factor that provoked this.

stoma.guru

Dry mouth, at first glance, is a common unpleasant sensation in the oral cavity. However, it can serve as a symptom of serious diseases. Let's find out why your mouth gets dry.

If you experience dry mouth mostly in the morning, it is most likely serious reasons no to worry. The cause may be intoxication of the body, for example, after drinking alcohol the day before. Similar manifestation entails acceptance narcotic substances. Insufficient hydration of the oral cavity is observed in people suffering from snoring. During a runny nose, if breathing occurs through the mouth, dry mouth also occurs.

Feeling of dry mouth during the day - more serious signal and a reason to visit a doctor, especially if it is accompanied by other symptoms:

1. Dry mouth and simultaneous frequent urination, constant feeling Fatigue and insomnia indicate the likelihood of diabetes. To confirm the diagnosis, take a blood test to determine the amount of glucose and contact an endocrinologist.
2. Dry mouth, redness of the eyelids, and burning eyes are signs of Sjögren's syndrome or disease. The latter is an independent disease. However, the syndrome occurs in parallel with systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis or other diseases. A rheumatologist will make the correct diagnosis.
3. Dry mouth may indicate inflammation of the salivary glands. Additionally, painful sensations are felt in the area of ​​the salivary gland and its enlargement.

A similar symptom may be accompanied by radiation treatment in the head and neck area. Impaired salivary secretion may be caused by damage to the nerves in the same area due to injury or surgery.

Deterioration of tongue sensitivity is often accompanied by thirst and dryness. This phenomenon is observed when the oral mucosa is burned by chemicals or hot food.

In some viral and bacterial diseases, the water balance is disturbed and saliva secretion decreases. Hypertension, stroke, anemia, Alzheimer's disease, immune and endocrine diseases can also have this symptom.

Dry mouth is observed when the body is dehydrated: high fever, increased sweating, diarrhea, vomiting, internal and external bleeding. Drink 30 grams of liquid per 1 kg of your weight per day to avoid dehydration.

Taking certain medications may cause dry mouth. Contact your doctor to have your prescription adjusted.

Smokers experience a similar effect because nicotine suppresses saliva secretion.

Excessive consumption of salty foods causes dry mouth. Do not add more than 7 grams of salt to food per day.

After intense sports training, when you lose a large amount of fluid, your mouth and lips become dry.

In addition, after severe stress, dry mouth sometimes occurs. Typical for people suffering excessive excitability nervous system. Usually goes away after symptoms of stress are eliminated.

If the feeling of dryness does not leave you for a long time, visit a doctor and get tested. The sooner you find the cause, the more effective and easy the treatment will be.

sovetclub.ru

Problems with dry mouth

Signs of dry mucous membranes:

• Oral discomfort associated with increased viscosity saliva
• Tongue tingling
• Unpleasant smell
• A sore throat
• Dry lips and corners of the mouth
• Difficulty swallowing
• Tongue sticking to the roof of the mouth
• The appearance of ulcers
• Constant feeling of thirst
• Change in taste sensations

Risk factors

Production decreases required quantity saliva. This condition of the oral mucosa is xerostomia. This is not a disease, but a symptom of one of many diseases or a temporary condition caused, for example, by dehydration.

If your mouth is dry, the reasons are:

Permanent phenomenon:

1) Elderly age. Over the years, the amount of saliva produced gradually decreases. This is often aggravated by taking large number medicines.

2) Absence of salivary glands as a result of surgery or congenital pathology.

3) Atrophy of the glands due to frequent use active disinfectants.

4) Treatment of cancer with radiation therapy, which reduces the efficiency of the glands.

5) A symptom of one or more diseases (stroke, cystic fibrosis, HIV/AIDS, arthritis, mumps, Alzheimer's disease, anemia, hypertension, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, Schergen's syndrome, etc.).

Temporary phenomenon:

Side effect during or after taking medications. More than 400 drugs have such properties. They are mainly prescribed for treatment high blood pressure, nervous disorders, muscle tone, allergies.

Dehydration of the body. It can be caused by high body or air temperature, diarrhea, vomiting, burns, blood loss, or insufficient fluid intake.

Brain injuries and damage to the central nervous system disrupt the salivation mechanism.

Breathing through the mouth. It can be caused by nasal congestion due to a runny nose, inflamed polyps, or a deviated nasal septum.

During a long conversation. People who have to talk a lot as part of their work often suffer from dry mouth. Intensely entering air dries out the mucous membrane. There is always a glass or bottle of water on the tables near the speakers.

Constant smoking or chewing tobacco adversely affects the entire body as a whole. Why does it dry out your mouth? The mucous membrane comes into direct contact with smoke and nicotine. They block the activity of the salivary glands.

Stress and anxiety cause dry mouth, this is due to the intense work of the nervous system.

A decrease in the amount of saliva secreted during sleep leads to dry mucous membranes in the morning.

Alcohol abuse. The ethanol contained in it acts as a diuretic, that is, it removes a lot of fluid from the body. There is an opinion that the poison formed during the breakdown of ethanol, acetaldehyde, causes massive death of brain cells. To eliminate non-living cells, the body requires large amounts of fluid. Therefore, it gives a signal in the form of strong thirst.

Eating salty and sweet food V large quantities. It has been proven that salt and sugar draw fluid from cells. The body tries to restore the disturbed balance and a feeling of thirst arises, accompanied by dry mouth.

Intoxication of the body after using drugs. To remove poisons you need a lot of liquid. So the poisoned organism requires salvation with the help of water.

Low air humidity causes drying of the mucous membranes. The optimal humidity for humans is 40-60%.

Fasting, especially without drinking water. This is due to the fact that if food does not arrive for a long time, the amount of saliva decreases sharply.

Eating soft foods that do not need to be chewed at all or that are chewed quickly and effortlessly. The chewing process is directly related to the production of saliva. Therefore, doctors recommend carefully and slowly grinding food with your teeth before swallowing.

Lack of vitamin A in the body. This is due to keratinization of the oral mucosa and blockage salivary ducts peeling particles.

If “desert in the oral cavity” is a constant or frequent phenomenon, it is recommended not to delay going to the doctor. It’s a hike, because it’s so difficult to muster the strength, find the time and desire to get to the hospital or clinic.

Don't expect the discomfort to go away on its own; it may not happen. Wasting time will only make the situation worse. After all, the sooner a specialist finds the causes and prescribes treatment, the faster the sufferer will get rid of his torment.

Diagnosis of xerostomia will begin with a survey of the patient and his examination, as a result of which the doctor will try to determine the possible causes. Be sure to prescribe a blood test for sugar and a general blood and urine test. If necessary, the specialist will suggest additional examination.

How is this condition harmful?

1. Taste sensations decrease.
2. Possible inflammation or suppuration in the mouth.
3. The first stage of digestion - processing food with saliva - is not carried out. This may lead to problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
4. The risk of developing caries increases because food debris is not removed.
5. It is difficult to use dentures.
6. The likelihood of infectious or fungal diseases increases. Thrush and stomatitis will not take long to appear. After all, a lack of saliva reduces its disinfecting properties.

How to get rid of dryness?

1. Drink water.
2. Suck on a sugar-free lollipop. You can replace it with any fruit seed. After all, finding something in the mouth causes profuse salivation.
3. Chew on a piece of ice.
4. Take advantage chewing gum.
5. Remember about the lemon.
6. Take advantage special drugs, increasing salivation or replacing saliva.
7. Doctors in ancient China practiced a special exercise to increase saliva production. With your mouth closed, make the movements that are made when rinsing your mouth. Repeat the process about 30 times. Saliva should be swallowed and mentally directed to the area just below the navel. Such training should be performed regularly to achieve the desired result.

How to prevent the problem?

Drink about 1.5-2 liters of water per day. Drink slowly in small sips.
Do not overuse pickles and sweets.
Do not poison the body with alcohol, smoking, or drugs.
Brush your teeth correctly in the morning and evening for at least three minutes.
Breathe exclusively through your nose.
Maintain an optimal level of humidity in the room.
Eat more vegetables and fruits, especially those that need to be chewed well.
Do not rinse your mouth with solutions containing alcohol. They dry out the mucous membrane.

Sometimes the topic of dry mouth is inextricably linked with the problem of bitterness in the mouth. There are a few same reasons these sensations, for example, such as taking medications and intoxication of the body.

This is interesting:

The human salivary ducts secrete from 1 to 2.5 liters of saliva per day.

Frequent consumption of carbohydrates reduces the ability of saliva to neutralize alkalis and acids, in other words, to resist tooth decay. On the contrary, food rich in proteins contributes to this.

Saliva consists of 99.4% water.

Saliva, or rather its composition, can tell a lot about a person’s state of health. Some diseases are detected based on saliva analysis.

Dry mouth (xerostomia) is dryness of the oral mucosa due to a decrease or cessation of secretion of the salivary glands. Chronic dry mouth makes it difficult for a person to speak, chew, swallow and taste, all of which generally makes life quite uncomfortable.

Typical signs of this condition are:

• Feeling of “stickiness” and dryness in the mouth
• Increased thirst
• Areas of irritation on the oral mucosa; cracks on the lips and corners of the mouth
• Feeling of dry throat
• Burning or itching in the mouth (especially on the tongue)
• The tongue turns red, becomes dry and rough
• Difficulty speaking, tasting, chewing and swallowing
• Hoarseness, dry nasal mucosa, sore throat
• Bad breath

The oral mucosa can respond to various pathological processes and functional disorders in many body systems.

Causes of dry mouth not related to illness

1. Insufficient drinking regime(with a lack of water, in hot weather, when eating highly salted foods).
2. The use of a significant number of different drugs (antitumor drugs, atropine, psychotropic drugs, diuretics, a group of sympathomimetics, etc.) has such side effect like dry mouth. Even hypotensive, vasoconstrictor and antihistamines help reduce saliva production.
3. When breathing through the mouth (in elderly people at night while sleeping with the mouth open due to weakness of the adductor muscles lower jaw to the top, with difficulty in nasal breathing due to polyps of the deviated nasal septum, etc.).
4. Frequent, unnecessary rinsing of the mouth.
5. Smoking.
6. Alcohol intoxication.
7. Menopause.

Diseases that cause dry mouth

1. Diseases of the salivary glands(mumps, sialadenitis, sialolithiasis, sialostasis, Mikulicz's disease). Common signs For each of these pathologies, there is a violation of the secretion of saliva, up to complete cessation, soreness of the gland, its enlargement, salivary colic (pain in the area of ​​the salivary gland while eating), swelling in the area of ​​the salivary gland.

2. Infectious diseases. Dry mouth occurs as a result of elevated temperature body and sweating (flu, sore throat, etc.), and due to significant loss liquids with vomit and feces (cholera, dysentery, etc.).

3. Endocrine diseases . Diabetes mellitus is a disease based on an absolute or relative lack of insulin in the body, causing disturbance carbohydrate and other metabolic processes in organism. Characteristic symptoms Overt diabetes mellitus is thirst, dry mouth, weight loss, weakness and polyuria (increased amount of urine excreted). The volume of urine excreted per day can be 3-6 liters or more. Thirst and dry mouth are associated with a decrease in fluid in the body and suppression of the function of the salivary glands.

Thyrotoxicosis – pathological condition organism that develops as a result high content thyroid hormones in the blood. Thyrotoxicosis is a complication of diffuse toxic goiter, thyrotoxic adenoma, multinodular hyperthyroid goiter. Patients complain of a feeling of fear, increased irritability, sleep disturbance, tremors of the arms and entire body, tachycardia, sweating, frequent diarrhea, vomiting, dry mouth, loss of appetite. Xerostomia occurs due to metabolic disorders and increased excretion of fluid from the body.

4. Neoplasms of the oral cavity(malignant and benign). The parotid and submandibular salivary glands are most often affected. Benign tumors most often located in the gland tissue, but can also be superficial. They are painless formations with a smooth or coarsely lumpy surface, dense elastic consistency, with a clearly pronounced capsule. Malignant tumors are a dense, painless nodule or infiltrate in the gland, without clear boundaries. As the disease progresses, pain appears. The tumor quickly spreads to surrounding tissues and organs and gives regional metastases. When the parotid gland is damaged, paralysis of the facial muscles occurs. Dryness of the oral cavity can be observed both due to the presence of the tumor itself (destruction, compression of the gland tissue and its ducts), and as a complication of radiation therapy for oncological processes in the maxillofacial area due to the direct effect of ionizing radiation on the neurosecretory apparatus and gland tissue.

5. Retinol deficiency(vitamin A) is manifested by paleness and dryness of the skin, its flaking, and a tendency to pustular lesions. There is dryness and dullness of hair, dry mouth, photophobia, conjunctivitis, blepharitis, frequent illnesses respiratory tract, brittle and striated nails, cracks in the corner of the mouth, hyperkeratosis (increased keratinization) of the oral mucosa. Vitamin A deficiency leads to severe violations epithelium, in which a change in the course of physiological regeneration (recovery) occurs and its atrophy develops. Increased desquamation of the newly formed epithelium of the excretory ducts of the salivary glands leads to blockage and the formation of retention cysts. The secretion of saliva slows down, although the gland tissue itself is not affected.

6. Pathological processes, leading to increased loss liquids: external and internal bleeding, massive burns, increased body temperature, frequent persistent diarrhea and vomiting, increased sweating.

7. Surgical removal of salivary glands carried out for extensive injuries, oncological processes, and chronic inflammatory diseases, if other treatment methods have been ineffective.

8. Injuries of the major salivary glands. Dry mouth is observed when the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual areas are injured. Trauma can lead to rupture of the tissue and ducts of the gland, which can cause disruption of the formation and release of saliva into the oral cavity.

9. Nerve damage(mainly glossopharyngeal and facial cranial nerves), contributing to the work of the salivary glands or the center of salivation (nuclei of the facial and glossopharyngeal nerves in the medulla oblongata).

10. Anemia. Iron deficiency anemia is characterized by pallor of the skin and mucous membranes, weakness, physical fatigue and mental lethargy, shortness of breath when moving, frequent dizziness, tinnitus, dry mouth, perversion of taste (addiction to chalk, coal, lime).

11. Nervous overexcitement . Excitement, stress, high psycho-emotional stress sometimes cause dry mouth in people with increased nervous excitability. Dry mouth goes away along with symptoms of stress.

12. Systemic diseases.
Systemic scleroderma is a polysyndromic disease manifested by progressive fibrosis of the skin, internal organs (heart, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys) and vascular pathology type obliterating endarteritis with widespread vasospastic (reduction of the lumen of blood vessels due to contraction of the smooth muscles of their walls) disorders. The clinic reflects a specific skin lesion that changes appearance patient (mask-like face, sclerodactyly) and various systems body (polyarthralgia, esophagitis, peptic ulcers, pneumosclerosis, cardiosclerosis, glomerulonephritis, etc.), symptoms progress over time. A common symptom is osteolysis of the nail phalanges, which leads to shortening and deformation of the fingers and toes. Damage to the mucous membranes is manifested by dryness in the oral cavity, thickening and shortening of the frenulum of the tongue. Scleroderma is often combined with Sjögren's syndrome.

Sjögren's disease– a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by dry mucous membranes caused by lymphoid proliferation of the exocrine glands.
Sjogren's syndrome is a symptom complex characterized by a combination of signs of damage to the exocrine glands (usually salivary and lacrimal) with a number of autoimmune diseases.
The course of the disease and Sjogren's syndrome are identical. However, the disease progresses as independent disease, and the syndrome occurs in combination with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic scleroderma and other diseases. Manifestations of pathology can be divided into systemic damage (recurrent non-erosive arthritis, myositis, interstitial nephritis etc.) and symptoms associated with hypofunction of the exocrine glands (dryness of the mucous membranes of the oral cavity, nasopharynx, trachea, eyes, vagina, gastrointestinal tract). Patients complain of itching, burning, eyelid pain, and photophobia. Recurrent bacterial conjunctivitis may develop. Damage to the salivary glands leads, most often, to the development of chronic parotitis, accompanied by pain, swelling of the tissue of the salivary glands, and an increase in body temperature to 38 - 40 ° C. In the later stages, there is severe dryness in the mouth, the inability to speak, or swallow food without adding liquid.

Cystic fibrosis – hereditary disease, characterized by systemic damage to the exocrine glands, manifested by severe dysfunction of the respiratory organs, gastrointestinal tract and a number of other organs and systems. The disease manifests itself already in the neonatal period. At good appetite children do not gain weight, there is a paroxysmal cough, dry oral mucosa, and viscous saliva. There is constant shortness of breath and cyanosis.

Diagnosis of dry mouth

When examining a patient, they clarify childhood diseases (mumps), what medications he is currently taking, and bad habits. The area of ​​the salivary glands is examined and palpated. Based on the data already received, the doctor makes a presumptive diagnosis and determines the tactics for further examination.

Laboratory and instrumental examination for dry mouth

1. general blood test (decrease in hemoglobin and red blood cell count with iron deficiency anemia, scleroderma, increase in leukocytes in inflammatory diseases);
2. General urine analysis - microhematuria (appearance of red blood cells in the urine), proteinuria (protein in the urine), cylindruria, leukocyturia with systemic scleroderma;
3. blood glucose (normal 3.3-5.5 mmol/l, increased glucose levels indicate possible diabetes mellitus);
4. Blood for thyroid hormones: T3, T4, TSH. With thyrotoxicosis, the level of T3, T4 increases and TSH decreases;
5. Biochemical analysis blood: retinol for vitamin A deficiency below 100 mcg/l, carotene – below 200 mcg/l;
6. ELISA ( linked immunosorbent assay) – antinuclear antibodies for scleroderma;
7. Serological analysis: rheumatoid factor titer 1:80 in Sjögren's disease;
8. Ultrasound is performed to determine the size of the salivary glands, the presence of stones, tumors, cysts, neuritis, etc.;
9. Sialoscintigraphy - allows you to judge not only secretory function salivary glands in general, but also about each phase of saliva formation separately;
10. Survey radiography– the method is used for sialolithiasis (salivolithiasis), in case of foreign bodies of the salivary glands, in case of damage to areas of the jaw and facial bones;
11. Sialadenolymphography - used for suspected metastases in the salivary glands;
12. Sialometry – carried out if necessary to assess the excretory capacity of the salivary glands. Normal values: 1.0 ml of saliva in 7-20 minutes;
13. Probing of the salivary gland ducts is used to assess their patency;
14. Biopsy and cytology of saliva and the resulting biopsy - used in the presence of neoplasms of the salivary glands;
15. CT ( CT scan) – the method is effective for diagnosing neoplasms in the area of ​​the salivary glands;
16. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) reveals the cause of pathology of the salivary glands, neuralgia of the glossopharyngeal and facial nerves;
17. If necessary, research quality composition saliva, it is possible to determine the level of immunoglobulins, proteolytic enzymes, amylase, macro- and microelements, etc.

Treatment for dry mouth

Treatment should be comprehensive, agreed with the doctor and include:

1. Treatment of the underlying disease that caused dry mouth.
2. Quitting bad habits (smoking).
3. If dry mouth is caused by medicines, then, on the advice of your doctor, try reducing the dose.
4. Do not often eat highly salted foods.
5. If necessary, drink plenty of fluids.
6. Avoid alcohol-containing mouthwashes.
7. It is possible to use drugs that replace saliva.

Why is dry mouth dangerous?

Dry mouth can be one of the first symptoms of many systemic diseases. Therefore, if possible, consult a doctor as soon as possible for examination. Dry mouth increases the risk of developing gingivitis ( inflammatory disease gums), caries and various infections oral cavity (for example, thrush). Dry mouth can also make it difficult to wear dentures.

Which doctor should I contact for dry mouth?

Therapist, endocrinologist, rheumatologist, dentist.

General practitioner Klentkina Yu.V.

A person who monitors and cares about his health should never neglect the analysis of obvious, seemingly insignificant signs that were not previously present. One of these signs is the appearance of dry mouth. Many will say that this is a trifle, a trifle. Rarely does an individual think that this insignificant sign may be a harbinger of a serious, sometimes serious, illness.

However, it’s worth thinking about and asking yourself why your mouth gets dry when obvious reasons for this purpose no. Let's try to analyze the facts that led to the appearance of dryness. The simplest and most understandable reason is the lack of water. The presence of this fact always leads to thirst, accompanied by dryness. This is a natural process that does not raise suspicion. Under this circumstance, no one will analyze their health or identify the reasons. All other moments in which dry mouth occurs should be alarming and puzzling.

Just dryness and nothing else

Let's ask the question of why your mouth gets dry if there is plenty of water. It is necessary to look at your condition in order to answer the question of whether it is just dry mouth, or whether some other unusual signs have appeared that were not previously observed. Even if this is one exceptional sign, it is necessary to consult a doctor, since it is quite possible that this is a harbinger of a process of damage to the pancreas or liver that has already begun in the body. As is known, the earlier the treatment process is started, the more effective the treatment of these organs is.

Dryness that occurs simultaneously with frequent urination

Frequent urination increased fatigue, insomnia, especially if all this is aggravated by excessive weight loss, can be signs of diabetes. To confirm this diagnosis it is necessary laboratory research. You will have to take a blood test to check your sugar levels.

Dry mouth and tongue, redness and burning of the eyelids, pain in the eyes

It is characterized by exactly these signs. Why does it dry out? in this case should be referred to a rheumatologist. Eye damage similar to allergic reaction, complicated by dry mouth, can be the cause not only rheumatoid arthritis, but also systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren's syndrome.

Dry mouth in other diseases

Many viral, fungal, bacterial diseases can cause thirst, and, consequently, dry mouth. This is due to the fact that in many of them the body’s water balance is disrupted and saliva production decreases. Some diseases cause loss of sensation in the tongue, which usually causes a feeling of thirst and dryness. This may be a burn to the oral mucosa from any chemicals or hot food.

Drug-induced dry mouth

Drug intoxication can cause dry mouth. Cases of unreasonable appearance characteristic features should alert parents whose children are prone to drug use narcotic drugs, whose lifestyle can provoke the use of drugs or alcohol.

The importance of dry mouth for the body as a whole

Whatever the reasons for dryness, it should be regarded as an important initial diagnostic symptom given to us by nature for making a diagnosis and the opportunity to receive early and effective treatment for some very serious diseases.

Thus, the sooner we can answer the question of why the mouth dries out, the faster, and most importantly, better, we can protect the body from many major health problems in the future.