Top 4 Natural Remedies for Xerostomia (Dry Mouth)

Abstract

When we eat food, it gets dissolved in our mouth with saliva, secreted by salivary glands present in our mouth. Saliva is a watery, frothy substance present in the mouth performing some important functions to digest food and making our mouth comfortable. Saliva helps in the prevention of tooth decay, limits the growth of bacteria, washes away food particles, enhancing the taste ability and makes it smoother to chew and swallow food. But under some unfavorable circumstances, saliva production gets decreased due to reduced capacity of salivary glands in producing saliva due to some reasons. The condition of decreased production of saliva is termed as Xerostomia. In this article, we will study about Xerostomia, its various aspects and its treatment with herbal remedies. Let’s take a look.

Introduction

Xerostomia or dry mouth can be considered as a condition in which the mouth becomes dry due to insufficient secretion of saliva by salivary glands. These glands become incapable of producing saliva required for keeping the mouth in a wet condition. Xerostomia is often caused by side-effects of several medications, due to aging or as a result of radiation therapy used in the treatment of cancer. Generally, xerostomia can be developed by any condition affecting the working of salivary glands.

Symptoms of Xerostomia

Signs and symptoms observed all or most of the time while suffering from the condition of Xerostomia are:

1. Feeling of stickiness or dryness in the mouth
2. Saliva that seems stringy and thick
3. Problem in swallowing, speaking and chewing
4. Bad breath
5. Dry or sore throat
6. Bartered sense of taste
7. Dry or grooved tongue
8. Trouble in wearing dentures

In rare cases, xerostomia may result in sticking lipstick to the teeth.

Causes of Xerostomia

Xerostomia is the condition caused by salivary glands producing insufficient or no saliva to make your mouth wet. This improper working of salivary gland is the result due to some conditions such as:

1. Aging

With the ongoing age, salivary glands lose their working efficiency and don’t remain much capable of producing enough saliva, resulting in dryness of mouth. Some factors contributing along with the ongoing age includes the use of several medicines, variation in body’s capacity to process medications, nutrition deficiency, and suffering from health issues from a long term.

2. Medications

Huge variety of medicines, including OTC (over the counter) medications decrease the secretion of saliva from the mouth as their adverse effect. The drugs highly responsible for causing the xerostomia are some of drugs used in the treatment of depression, anxiety, hypertension, allergy, as well as muscle relaxants, analgesics and decongestants.

3. Cancer therapy

Drugs used in the chemotherapy can alter the nature of saliva and its produced quantity. It is a temporary effect and gets treated after the completion of the treatment. The cancer treatment including the radiations to the neck and head can spoil the salivary glands, developing a marked decrease in the production of saliva. This effect may be temporary or permanent lean upon the dose and area treated with radiations.

4. Nerve Damage

The surgery or injury provoking the nerve damage in the area of the head or neck can result in the dryness of the mouth.

5. Some other health problems

Several other problems can also lead to xerostomia or dryness of the mouth. These health problems include yeast infection in mouth, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, auto-immune diseases like Sjogren’s syndrome or AIDS. Breathing or snoring can also contribute to dryness of the mouth.

6. Tobacco and alcohol use

Drinking alcohol or chewing tobacco can also give rise to xerostomia and reduce the working efficiency of salivary glands to produce saliva.

Complications of Xerostomia

Dry mouth or inadequate production of saliva in mouth for a long duration can give rise to many other complications also such as:

1. Mouth sores
2. Mouth gum disease, tooth decay and increased plaque
3. Development of yeast infection in mouth
4. Cracking of lips
5. Difficulty in swallowing and chewing food which further lead to nutrition deficiency

Diagnosis of Xerostomia

When you visit a doctor’s clinic to determine whether you are suffering from Xerostomia or not, the doctor firstly asks your complete medical history, your ongoing medicines, and will do an examination of your mouth.In some cases, the doctor may also prescribe some blood tests, imaging scans of salivary glands, or some other tests to measure the production quantity of saliva to identify the exact cause of dry mouth.

Treatment of Xerostomia

There is no need to worry; you can easily treat the Xerostomia or dryness of the mouth by using Ayurvedic medicines by Planet Ayurveda. All these medicines are prepared under the supervision of M.D. Ayurveda doctors who make sure that these products should be completely natural and independent from any kind of chemical, preservative, color, binder, starch, flavor or any artificial additive. Thus, all these medicines are totally safe for consumption by all aged-group people whether they are child, adult or elder. Take a look at these marvelous herbal remedies.

Herbal Remedies by Planet Ayurveda

1. Acido Plan Syrup
2. Neuro Plan Syrup
3. Gum Care Powder
4. Chitrakadi Vati

Product description

1. Acido Plan Syrup

Acido Plan syrup prepared in the house of Planet Ayurveda is formulated with standardized extract of

• Patola (Trichosanthes dioica)
• Ghrit Kumari (Aloe barbadensis)
• Saunf (Foeniculum vulgare)
• Kokum (Garcinia indica), etc.

This syrup is very advantageous in regulating the health of the whole digestive system, prevents constipation, diarrhea, acidity and improves the flow of saliva in the mouth.

Dosage: 2 teaspoon twice daily after meals.

2. Neuro Plan Syrup

Planet Ayurveda’s Neuro Plan syrup consist of high quality extracts of some wonderful herbs such as

• Shankhpushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis)
• Jyotishmati (Celastrus paniculatus)
• Bhojpatra (Betula utilis)
• Maricha (Piper nigrum)
• Sonth (Zingiber officinale) and several others.

All these herbs are known for their benefits in enhancing overall health especially in improving the brain power, memory, concentration power and regulating the health of the mouth.

Dosage: 2 teaspoon two times daily after meals.

3. Gum Care Powder

Gum Care powder is a blend mixture of ten herbs like

• Haritaki (Terminalia chebula)
• Mustak (Cyperus rotundus)
• Poog (Areca catechu)
• Lavang (Syzygium aromaticum)
• Twak (Cinnamomum zeylanica) and five others.

This powder contains the potency of ten herbs which works in a synergistic manner to treat the diseases of teeth and gum by providing health to oral mucosa.

Dosage: Do a gentle massage on your gums and teeth with 3-6 gm powder. Rinse the mouth with lukewarm water after 2 to 3 minutes.

4. Chitrakadi Vati

Herbs such as

• Chitraka (Plumbago zeylanica)
• Pippali moola (Piper longum)
• Shunti (Zingiber officinalis)
• Chavya (Piper chaba)

Many others are formulated to prepare Chitrakadi Vati tablets by Planet Ayurveda. These tablets are very helpful in treating and preventing various kinds of diseases such as Xerostomia, Anorexia, Indigestion, Abdominal gas, Irritable bowel syndrome, Obesity, Malabsorption, Diarrhea with mucus discharge and many others.

Dosage: – 1 tablet twice a day with lukewarm water after meals.

Other Preventable Measures

1. Increase the intake of fluid to prevent dryness and dehydration
2. Add large proportion of food items which are rich in water content in your diet
3. Chew sugar free gum or products containing xylitol which is helpful in preventing cavities
4. Breathe through your nose instead of breathing with your mouth opened.
5. Apply moisturizer to your lips on daily basis to heal dry or cracked areas
6. Quit the smoking habit
7. Do cleansing of teeth and tongue on daily basis
8. Do gargles with warm water by adding salt in it

Contact my assistant to provide you the costing / ordering and delivery information at – costing.planetayurveda@gmail.com or call at +91-172-5214030 Or Check Website – www.PlanetAyurveda.com

Conclusion

As we read about the Xerostomia in this article, we have got enough knowledge about its various aspects. This condition can be easily overcome by using above mentioned Ayurvedic medicines. These medicines are totally safe and treat the problem of dry mouth in a natural manner. Wish you an early recovery.