What is Dry Mouth?
Dry mouth is the condition of not having enough saliva to keep your mouth wet. As a result, the mouth feels dry. This condition is also known as xerostomia. Millions worldwide suffer from mouth dryness.
How SaliPen works to stop dry mouth
How can I stop Dry Mouth?
Stimulate your salivary glands with SaliPen
The most natural way to stop Dry Mouth is with SaliPen.
The device naturally stimulates, by electrostimulation, the salivary glands to produce more saliva. It is not felt, easy to use anywhere, anytime, and has no side effects
There are several other ways that may help if you have dry mouth. The most common are:
Gums, lozenges or mints
The combination of chewing and taste, as provided by these aids can be effective in lessening mouth dryness.
Medications
There are medications that specifically increase salivary flow, such as pilocarpine and cevimeline. However these drugs may cause significant adverse side effects.
Salivary substitutes
A number of salivary substitutes/artificial saliva agents are available as mouthwash, spray or gel.
Alzheimer’s disease
Medication-induced side effect
Autoimmune disease (Sjögren’s syndrome)
Head & neck radiotherapy
Bone marrow transplantation
Depression
Chronic Hepatitis C
HIV infection
Drug abuse
Others or unknown (idiopathic) causes
Why are my salivary glands not working properly?
Different reasons can cause your salivary glands to produce little or no saliva:
Side effects of some medicines
More than 1,800 medicines can cause the salivary glands to make less saliva. Among the medication classes that may cause dry mouth are:
- Analgesics
- Anorexiants
- Anti-Arrhythmic Medications
- Anti-Ulcer Agents
- Anticholinergics and Antispasmodics
- Antihistamines and Decongestants
- Antihypertensives
- Cold and Cough Preparations
- Digestives
- Diuretics
- Erectile Dysfunction Management
- Gastrointestinal Agents
- Immunologic Agents
- Migraine Management
- Muscle Relaxants
- Nausea Medications
- Osteoporosis Management
- Parkinsonism Drugs
Psychotropic Agents:
- Antianxiety Agents
- Antidepressants
- Antimanic Agents
- Antipsychotic Agents
- Obsessive-Compulsive Medication
- Sedative and Hypnotic Agents
- Seizure Disorder Medication
- Sleep Aids
- Smoking Cessation Aids
- Treatment of Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder
Disease
Some diseases affect the salivary glands: Sjögren’s Syndrome, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, depression and Parkinson’s disease can all cause Dry Mouth.
Radiation therapy
The salivary glands usually are damaged by radio-therapy during cancer treatment
Nerve damage
Injury to the head or neck can damage the nerves that tell salivary glands to make saliva.
Other causes of Dry Mouth
In addition, many cases of Dry Mouth are due to other causes not listed here, or may be of unknown origin (idiopathic).
- a sticky, dry feeling in the mouth
- trouble chewing, swallowing, tasting, or speaking
- a burning feeling in the mouth
- a dry feeling in the throat
- cracked lips
- a dry, rough tongue
- mouth sores
- an infection in the mouth
- bad taste
- bad breath (halitosis)
- need to moisten the mouth often (including during the night)
Dry Mouth may affect your social life
In addition, Dry Mouth can have negative social side effects. With dry mouth it is harder to communicate so people become reclusive. Difficulties in sleeping means they also become tired and bad tempered.
Dry mouth can be an occasional feeling due to dehydration if not enough fluids are drunk or in severe cases of diarrhea or vomiting.
Dry mouth can also appear as a reaction to the intake of certain medications, like anti-histamines used against allergy or codeine taken to combat pain or cough.
Dry mouth can also be the consequence of a transient anxiety or depression.
However, if dry mouth is felt constantly most days of the week and this condition lasts for over one month then a chronic dry mouth is suspected.
Saliva does more than keep our mouth wet
Saliva acts in the mouth like oil does in an engine.
Tongue and lips movements are not smooth without enough saliva. Thus one finds it hard to speak and chew food, especially dry and hard food.
Worse than that, one may not get the needed nutrients if chewing and swallowing certain foods are hampered.
In addition, tooth decay or other infections in the mouth can develop.
How does saliva keep us healthy?
saliva helps digesting food
saliva protects teeth from decay
Saliva lubricates the mouth and allows free movement of the jaws and tongue
saliva prevents infection by controlling bacteria and fungi in the mouth
saliva prevents infection by controlling bacteria and fungi in the mouth
saliva makes it possible for you to chew and swallow
saliva prevents bad breath
Sip often water or sugarless drinks.
Avoid drinks with caffeine, such as coffee, tea, and some sodas. Caffeine can dry out the mouth.
Sip water or a sugarless drink during meals. This will make chewing and swallowing easier. It may also improve the taste of food.
Be aware that spicy or salty foods may cause pain in a dry mouth.
Chew sugarless gum or suck on sugarless hard candy to stimulate saliva flow; citrus, cinnamon or mint-flavored candies are good choices.
Don’t use tobacco or alcohol. They dry out the mouth.
Use a humidifier at night.
Gently brush your teeth at least twice a day.
Floss your teeth every day.
Use toothpaste with fluoride in it. Most toothpastes sold at grocery and drug stores have fluoride in them.
Avoid sticky, sugary foods. If you do eat them, brush immediately afterwards.
Visit your dentist for a check-up at least twice a year. Your dentist might give you a special fluoride solution that you can rinse with to help keep your teeth healthy.
Saliwell offices
Saliwell in Israel
Saliwell Ltd.
3A Hatamar St.
Harutzim 60917
Israel
Phone: +972-50-880-1852
Phone: +972-50-725-6338
Saliwell in Germany
Saliwell Ltd.
Gewerbepark Eschbergerweg,
Im Helmerswald 2, Gebäude 4,
66121 Saarbrücken
Germany