Relieving Symptoms of Cotton Mouth

By Patricia | May 29, 2009

Cotton Mouth And Alcohol

Cotton mouth is the more colloquial and common use of the medical term Xerostomia. This is a condition in which the salivary glands are not able to produce saliva and consequently the feeling of a dry mouth. This condition is usually caused as a result of alcohol intake, drug abuse and physical trauma to the salivary glands. Cotton mouth could also be an indication of other diseases as well, so you need to look out for any other strange symptoms.

Sjogren’s syndrome is one such disease that is caused by the autoimmune system destroying the salivary and tear glands. Therefore, if your cotton mouth is accompanied by dry eyes and no tears being produced then you may have to be put on a dose of corticosteroids. Another condition that cotton mouth is symptomatic of is Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome. This is a disorder of certain parts of the nervous system which causes certain muscles to remain in a contracted state. One of the symptoms of this condition is cotton mouth as well. In both of these cases, treatment for the main disease also relieves one of cotton mouth. If these diseases are not detected or diagnosed, then this condition is usually reversed by non ingestion of the substances that are other possible causes of cotton mouth like alcohol, medication, or drugs.

Some of the interesting therapies that are advocated is the chewing of gum as well as the use of synthetic saliva, which is used as a mouth wash. Avoiding caffeine is also required to ease out the symptoms of dry mouth and an increased intake of water is also required to avoid dehydration. Drinking green tea, chamomile, and ginger tea are also believed to be quite useful in alleviating the symptoms of cotton mouth. The lack of saliva in the mouth poses quite a lot of problems to the patient especially the risk of oral infections and demineralization of tooth enamel. To avoid this at all costs, most doctors will prescribe synthetic saliva and this is the only sort of relief one can expect if there has been permanent damage to the salivary glands. A dentist might also prescribe the use of a dental sealant to avoid excessive tooth damage. A dental sealant is a plastic based material that is applied over a tooth, usually because of some kind of damage, and dries up in the presence of a powerful, high-intensity light.

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