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DENTALTRIBUNE Middle East & Africa Edition News & Opinions 5 What is dry mouth? We can all suffer from dry mouth at some point, for exam- ple, if we are nervous or stressed. Somostofusarefamiliarwiththe feeling of not having enough saliva in our mouth to keep it moist and lubricated. For some people, however, dry mouth can be a regular problem. As we get older we are more likely to expe- rience dry mouth, but it’s also a problem that can affect people from their 30s onwards. What causes dry mouth? Dry mouth occurs when the salivary glands stop working ef- fectively. Medicines are known to cause over 60% of dry mouth cases, with more than 400 differ- ent medications linked to dry mouth. The number of medi- cines a patient takes is also di- rectly related to the likelihood of experiencing dry mouth. Health conditions are also linked to dry mouth, such as diabetes or Sjö- gren’s syndrome. People who smoke, who are pregnant, stressed, anxious or dehydrated are also more likely to have dry mouth. What are the symptoms? The symptoms of dry mouth can include: • difficulty in eating, especially with dry foods, such as cere- als or crackers • difficulty in swallowing and speaking • a burning sensation in the mouth • taste disturbances • painfultongue •dry,cracked, painful lips • bad breath • persistent difficulty in wear- ing dentures • feeling thirsty, especially at night • dry, rough tongue. Sometimes the amount of saliva a person produces may be reduced by up to 50% before these symp- toms are noticed. These symptoms can sometimes have a profound effect on self confidence. Does dry mouth cause other problems? Saliva plays a very important protective role in the body. It not only keeps our mouth moist, it also helps to protect our teeth from decay, helps to prevent in- fectionsandhelpstohealsoresin the mouth. Are your patients dry mouth sufferers? • Do they have difficulty swal- lowing certain foods? • Does their mouth feel dry when eating a meal? • Do they need to sip liq- uids to help you swallow dry foods? • Are they taking multiple medicines? If a patient answered yes to any of these, he/she may have dry Products to ease dry mouth The Biotène system is specif- ically designed to treat dry mouth. The different products in the Biotène system allow you to choose the ones that best meet your lifestyle and dry mouth needs: • 1 product specifically de- signed to help relieve your dry mouth:thegelprovideslonglast- ing relief • 2 products to help maintain healthy teeth and prevent tooth decayinpeoplewithdrymouth:a toothpaste, with fluoride, and mouthwash which can be used twice a day in place of the usual products. These are designed to be gentle on your mouth as they are alcohol-free and don’t con- tain harsh detergents. Biotène supplementsthemake-upofnor- mal saliva to replenish dry mouths.Ithasapatentedenzyme formulation that: • helps supplement saliva’s natural defences • helps maintain the oral en- vironment to provide protection against dry mouth • helps supplement saliva’s natural antibacterial system - weakened in a dry mouth. Biotène’s gentle formulation is also free from alcohol and harsh detergents. What else can a patient do to manage dry mouth? • Sipwaterorsugar-freedrinks often • Avoid drinks which dry out the mouth, such as caffeine- containing drinks (coffee, tea, some fizzy drinks) and alcohol • Chew sugar-free gums or sweets tostimulatesalivaflow•Avoidto- bacco as this has a drying effect • Use a humidifier at night to keep the air full of moisture. To help keep healthy teeth and avoid tooth decay: • Brush teeth with a softtoothbrushaftermealsandat bedtime • Floss teeth gently every day. If there is bleeding from gums when flossing, this could be a sign of gum disease. • Use an SLS-free, fluoride tooth- paste,likeBiotène,withitsgentle formulation • Avoid alcohol-con- taining mouthwashes as these can dry out the mouth • Avoid sweet, sugary foods • Visit the dentist at least twice a year for a check-up. Does Your Patient Suffer from Dry Mouth? AD