Health

Dry mouth common medication reaction in older adults

(HealthDay)—In older adults, medication use is significantly associated with xerostomia and salivary gland dysfunction, according to a review published online Oct. 26 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Medical research

Imaging can detect response to dry mouth toothpaste

(HealthDay) -- In vivo optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging can detect response to dry mouth toothpaste in patients with xerostomia, according to a pilot study published online June 13 in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.

Oncology & Cancer

Study finds ways to help end dry mouth in cancer patients

(Edmonton) For patients suffering from cancer in the mouth or throat, a recent study shows that a treatment called submandibular gland transfer will assist in preventing a radiation-induced condition called xerostomia.

Xerostomia ( /ˌzɪərɵˈstoʊmiə/) is the medical term for the subjective complaint of dry mouth due to a lack of saliva. Xerostomia is sometimes colloquially called pasties, cottonmouth, drooth, or doughmouth. Several diseases, treatments, and medications can cause xerostomia. It can also be exacerbated by smoking or drinking alcohol.

Xerostomia can cause difficulty in speech and eating. It also leads to halitosis and a dramatic rise in the number of cavities, as the protective effect of saliva's remineralizing the enamel is no longer present, and can make the mucosa and periodontal tissue of the mouth more vulnerable to infection. Heavy methamphetamine use can cause xerostomia, usually called "meth mouth" in this case; it can be worsened by methamphetamine at recreational doses causing tight clenching of the jaw, bruxism (compulsive grinding of the teeth), or a repetitive 'chewing' movement as if the user were chewing, but without food in the mouth.

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