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Xerostomia has a direct negative impact on nutritional
intake and quality of life11:
- Severe dry mouth sufferers may have difficulty tasting, chewing, swallowing, or speaking and may feel shame and anxiety in social settings12,13
- A major complication of dry mouth is the promotion of dental caries2
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It is common for non-sufferers to discount the effects of xerostomia, but for people living with the condition, the problems are very real.1 Xerostomia can affect your patients' quality-of-life in a number of ways, whether the symptoms are mild, moderate or severe.
It can impact a patient's physical health by causing toothwear,8 dental caries, gingivitis, a burning sensation in the mouth, and oral yeast infections.2,3 But it can also affect a patient's emotional health through discomfort and inconvenience,4,6 and may cause the patient to feel shame and anxiety in social settings.9, 10 Patients who wear dentures may find them uncomfortable, and all patients may find they have trouble speaking. A patient may be unable to eat certain foods, have difficulty swallowing or have a diminished or changed sense of taste. 2,3 As a result, dietary habits and the patient's nutrition may be affected.5 And an increased need to sip or drink fluids can affect sleep patterns and quality, by causing a patient's sleep to be interrupted due to thirst.2,3
Studies indicate that patients aged 18 to 24 years are more likely to be "very bothered" or "sometimes bothered" by dry mouth, compared with other age groups.6 But research shows that most dry mouth sufferers don't even mention the condition to their oral health care providers.
By proactively questioning patients, dental professionals can help identify dry mouth sufferers, and recommend a number of measures to help patients with dry mouth be more comfortable. This can include switching to an alternate medication,2 avoiding caffeinated drinks and tobacco products7, stimulating salivary flow with products such as certain sugar-free hard candies or sugar-free gum2 and/or using over-the-counter moisturizing products which work as artificial saliva.1
Click here to learn how Oasis helps manage dry mouth symptoms for your
patients suffering from xerostomia.
Sources:
- Facts about Dry Mouth: Information provided by GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare.
- Guggenheimer J, Moore PA. Xerostomia: etiology, recognition and treatment. JADA. 2003;143:61-69.
- Urquhart, David. Review of the Use of Polymers in Saliva Substitutes for Symptomatic Relief of Xerostomia. J Clin Dent 17 [Spec Iss]; 29-33, 2006.
- Fox PC, vander Ven PF, Sonies BC, Weiffenbach JM, Baum BJ: Xerostomia: Evaluation of a symptom with increasing significance. JADA 110:519-525, 1985.
- Fox PC. Dry Mouth: Managing the Symptoms and Providing Effective Relief. J Clin Dent 17 [Spec Iss]: 2006.
- Sreebny LM, Schwartz SS. A reference guide to drugs and dry mouth- 2nd edition. Gerondontology. 1997; 14:33-47
- National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. "Dry Mouth." 1999.
- Young W, Khan F, Brandt R, Savage N, Razek AA, Huang Q: Syndromes with salivary dysfunction predispose to tooth wear: Case reports of congenital dysfunction of major salivary glances, Prader-willi, congenital rubella, and Sjogren's syndromes. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 92:38-48, 2001.
- Cassolato SF, Turnbull RS. Xerostomia: clinical aspects and treatment. Gerodontology. 2003;20-64-77
- Rydhold M, Strang P. Physical and psychological impact of xerostomia in palliative cancer care: a qualitative interview study. Int J Palliat Nurs. 2002;8:318-323.
- Sreebny LM, Schwartz SS. A reference guide to drugs and dry mouth--2nd edition.Gerodontology. 1997;14:33-47
- Cassolato SF, Turnbull RS. Xerostomia: clinical aspects and treatment. Gerodontology. 2003;20:64-77.
- Rydholm M, Strang P. Physical and psychosocial impact of xerostomia in palliative cancer care: a qualitative interview study. Int J Palliat Nurs. 2002;8:318-323
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