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Dry Mouth Research Paper

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Dry mouth

When our body fails to produce enough saliva, it results in us getting a dry and uncomfortable mouth that’s commonly known as dry mouth. Dry mouth or xerostomia as it’s otherwise known, is more common in people of an older generation and has been shown to affect around one in five elderly people. Your saliva not only moistens but also helps to cleanse your mouth along with processing food and preventing infection from bacteria and fungi. It might surprise you to know that saliva is actually quite an impressive liquid.

You’re no doubt aware that saliva is clear but did you know that several different glands in your mouth make it? It’s an important part of any healthy body and just like our bodies, is made mostly of water. Alongside water, your saliva contains a number of important substances that your body needs in order to fully digest your food and keep your teeth strong and healthy. Saliva is hugely important …show more content…

• Side effects from a medical condition or infection for example, Sjögren’s syndrome.
• Side effect of medical treatment due to damage to the salivary gland. A good example of this would be the inability to produce saliva after undergoing radiation to the head and neck along with chemotherapy rounds for cancer.
• Nerve damage if experienced within the head and the neck from an injury or a surgery.
• Dehydration from a fever, excessive sweating, blood loss or even diarrhea can all cause dry mouth.
• Your lifestyle is a big contributing factor as smoking or chewing tobacco can affect your ability to produce saliva as well as aggravate your dry mouth further as can continually breathing with an open mouth.
• Surgical removal of the salivary glands.
Dry mouth will usually be accompanied by a series of common symptoms including:
• A sticky, dry feeling in your

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