XEROSTOMIA – Dry Mouth
DRY MOUTH (Xerostomia) is the decreased production and/or flow of saliva. It is not a disease but can be a symptom of certain diseases and medical situations. Xerostomia is manifested in complaints of oral dryness, burning of the tissues, difficulty eating and swallowing, irritation of the tongue and painful ulcerations as well as significantly progressive and sometimes uncontrollable decay and periodontal disease. Burning tongue (glossodynia) may become quite severe with chronic dryness, resulting in atrophy and painful fissuring and loss of the surface mucosa, often interfering with nutritional intake. It can also affect denture wearers. Needless to say, there are high levels of discomfort and oral disease in individuals plagued with xerostomia.
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Xerostomia counteracts the protective properties that saliva provides. Saliva functions to protect tooth enamel and prevents demineralization; it buffers decay causing acids, removes food residue, and inhibits bacterial growth. Some of the complications of Xerostomia that logically follow include dental decay, gum disease and tooth loss.
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Xerostomia has serious negative effects on the quality of life, affecting dietary habits, nutritional status, speech, and taste. It is the hidden cause of decay, gum disease and tooth loss in 3 of every 10 adults.
What conditions can lead to xerostomia?
- MEDICATIONS including prescriptions drugs and over-the-counter drugs
- CANCER THERAPY radiation therapy and chemotherapy
- NERVE DAMAGE trauma or surgery to the neck & head
- MEDICAL CONDITIONS such as Sjogrens Syndrome, Lupus, HIV/AIDS, bone marrow transplants, Diabetes Mellitus, Parkinsons Disease, stress, anxiety, depression, nutritional deficiencies
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Measures that can help to alleviate dry mouth include the use of a humidifier: elimination of caffeine found in coffee, tea, soda & chocolate; chewing sugarless gum or sucking on hard sugarless candies that contain Xylitol (tart fruit, mint or cinnamon flavors are most effective in stimulating saliva production); quit smoking it dries out the mouth; reduce beer, wine & liquor consumption alcohol is a diuretic; increased consumption of water & sugar-free beverages; use of artificial saliva products; inquire about switching or adjusting dosages of mouth drying medications.
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Medications Causing or Aggravating Dry Mouth
The following are lists of both prescription and over-the-counter medications that may cause or aggravate this condition. As with all medications, you should discuss potential side-effects with your Doctor or Pharmacist before use or discontinuation.
ANOREXIANT
Adipex-P, Fastin, Ionamin, Zantryl (phentermine)
Anorex SR, Adipost, Bontril PDM (phendimtrazine)
Mazanor, Sanorex (mazindol)
Pondimin, Fen-Phen (fenfluramine)
Tenuate, Tepanil, Ten-Tab (diethylpropion)
ANTIACNE
Accutane (isotretinoin)
ANTIANXIETY
Atarax, Vistaril (hydroxyzine)
Ativan (lorazepam)
Centrax (prazepam)
Equanil, Miltown (meprobamate)
Librium (chlordiazepoxide)
Paxipam (halazepam)
Serax (oxazepam)
Valium (diazepam)
Xanax (alprazolam)
ANTICHOLINERIGIC/ANTISPASMODIC
Anaspaz (hyoscyamine)
Atropisol, Sal-Tropine (atropine)
Banthine (methantheline)
Bellergal (belladonna alkaloids)
Bentyl (dicyclomine)
Daricon (oxyphencyclimine)
Ditropan (oxybutynin)
Donnatal, Kinesed (hyoscyamne with atropine, phenobarbital, scopolamine)
Librax (chlordiazepoxide with clidinium)
Pamine (methscopolamine)
Pro-Banthine (propantheline)
Transderm-Scop (scopolamine)
ANTICONVULSANT
Felbatol (felbamate)
Lamictal (lamotrigine)
Neurontin (gabapentin)
Tegretol (carbamazepine)
ANTIDEPRESSANT
Anafranil (clomipramine)
Asendin (amoxapine)
Elavil (amitriptyline)
Luvox (fluvoxamine)
Norpramin (desipramine)
Prozac (fluoxetine)
Sinequan (doxepin)
Tofranil (imipramine)
Wellbutrin (bupropion
ANTIDIARRHEAL
Imodium AD (loperamide)
Lomotil (diphenoxylate with atropine)
Motofen (difenoxin with atropine)
ANTIHISTAMINE
Actifed (triprolidine with psuedoephedrine)
Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
Chlor-Trimeton (chlorpheniramine)
Claritin (loratadine)
Dimetane (brompheniramine)
Dimetapp (brompheniramine with phenylpropanolamine)
Hismanal (astemizole)
Phenergan (promethazine)
Pyribenzamine(PBZ) (tripelennamine)
Seldane (terfenadine)
ANTIHYPERTENSIVE
Capoten (captopril)
Catapres (clonidine)
Coreg (carvedilol)
Ismelin (guanethidine)
Minipress (prazosin)
Serpasil (reserpine)
Wytensin (guanabenz)
ANTIINFLAMMATORY ANALGESIC
Dolobid (diflunisal)
Feldene (piroxicam)
Motrin (ibuprofen)
Nalfon (fenoprofen)
Naprosyn (naproxen) ANTINAUSEANT Antivert (meclizine)
Dramamine (dyphenhydramine)
Marezine (cyclizine) ANTIPARKINSON Akineton (biperiden)
Artane (trihexyphenidyl)
Cogentin (benztropine mesylate)
Larodopa (levodopa)
Sinemet (carbidopa with levodopa)
ANTI-PSYCHOTIC
Cloriaril (clozapine)
Compazine (prochlorperazine)
Eskalith (lithium)
Haldol (haloperidol)
Mellaril (thioridazine)
Navane (thiothixene)
Orap (pimozide)
Sparine (promazine)
Stelazine (trifluoperazine)
Thorazine (chlorpromazine)
BRONCHODILATOR
Atrovent (ipratropium)
Isuprel (isoproterenol)
Proventil, Ventolin (albuterol)
DECONGESTANT
Ornade (phenylpropanolamine with hyfrochlorothiazide)
Sudafed (psuedophedrine)
DIURETIC
Diuril (chlorothiazide)
Dyazide, Maxzide (triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide)
HydroDIURIL, Esidrix (hydrochlorothiazide)
Hygroton (chlothalidone)
Laxis (furosemide)
Midamor (amiloride)
MUSCLE RELAXANT
Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine)
Lioresal (baclofen)
Norflex, Disipal (orphenadrine)
NARCOTIC ANALGESIC
Demerol (meperidine)
MS Contin (morphine)
SEDATIVE
Dalmane (flurazepam)
Halcion (triazolam)
Restoril (temazepam)
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