While it also refers to an especially poisonous snake you
should avoid, cottonmouth is the lesser known name of a condition that’s fairly
prevalent among the populace—xerostomia or dry mouth, which is when the body doesn’t
produce enough saliva. Cottonmouth may be temporary, brought about by
excitement or nerves, or the condition can be ongoing due to specific medical issues
or medications. While the exact figure isn’t known, many people suffer from
cottonmouth at one time or another depending on their age and medical history.
If you’re worried you’re suffering from cottonmouth, here is a quick rundown of
what you should know.
The
Basics of Cottonmouth
According
to the American Dental Association (ADA), a healthy individual produces as many
as one and a half liters of saliva every day, and you're more likely to suffer
from cottonmouth whenever the body’s salivary glands cease their production of saliva.
Saliva has several key functions, such as aiding in digestion, keeping your mouth
moist, cleaning the mouth, and maintaining neutral pH levels.
Not every
dry mouth case is identical, with symptoms including dry or sticky feelings in your
mouth—you may feel as though you have cotton stuffed into your mouth and as though
you have rubbed a towel on your oral cavity. Regarding severe cases, individuals
tend to develop cracked lips, feel burning sensations in their throats, or have
trouble chewing, speaking, or swallowing.
What Causes Cottonmouth?
While
no one thing causes cottonmouth, there are factors that can contribute to the
condition, including the following:
- Medications
: Over 500
medicines have been linked with dry mouth, including prescription
allergy medication, sedatives, and antidepressants. Changing doses or
switching over to other formulations may help relieve symptoms of dry
mouth.
- Medical
conditions
:
Per the ADA, Sjogren's disease, which is an autoimmune disease that can
cause damaging inflammation to your salivary glands, is among the more
common conditions linked with dry mouth.
- Radiation
therapy/chemotherapy
: Radiation therapy or chemotherapy, especially for cancer
treatments in the neck or head, is another common cause of dry mouth, per
the ADA. Dry mouth symptoms may develop during therapy or months later.
- Lifestyle
habits
:
Some lifestyle habits, including drinking lots of alcohol, smoking, and
drugs like cocaine, marijuana, or speed, can cause cottonmouth.
Treating Cottonmouth
Because
saliva’s function is to maintain cleanliness in the mouth while keeping
bacteria in check, individuals with persistent dry mouth are much more likely
to develop gum disease, tooth decay, and other infections in the mouth. Cottonmouth
treatment can range from correcting medications to addressing underlying conditions.
Whenever a dry mouth case is linked with lifestyle choices, cutting back on
them or giving up them entirely could improve symptoms.
Drinking
more water can help as well, as this moistens the mouth while helping with swallowing
and chewing, as well as chewing gum to stimulate the flow of saliva. You also
must continue with a solid oral healthcare routine, including brushing twice
per day with fluoride toothpaste, flossing once daily, and using mouthwash to
protect your teeth further.
If you
are putting off a dental visit due to the high costs of dental care, consider signing
up for our NH supplemental dental insurance. To get more information
about our plan that can save you as much as 20 percent off bills, click
here.
