NIHSeniorHealth Says: Talk to Your Doctor about Dry Mouth
If you’ve ever stood up to give an important presentation, opened your mouth
to speak, and realized you cannot form words, you know what it feels like to
have dry mouth. Occasional dry mouth — the feeling that there is not enough saliva
in the mouth — is normal. But experiencing dry mouth all or most of the time is
not. Side effects of medications are the main cause of dry mouth, particularly
in older adults who take more prescription and over-the-counter medicines than
any other age group. Now, the latest information about the causes and treatments
of dry mouth is available in an easy-to-understand, interactive format at www.nihseniorhealth.gov.
The NIHSeniorHealth Web site is a joint effort of the National Institute on Aging
(NIA) and the National Library of Medicine (NLM), which are part of the National
Institutes of Health (NIH).
“Most people underestimate the importance of saliva,” says Lawrence A. Tabak,
D.D.S., Ph.D., director of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial
Research (NIDCR), which developed the content for the dry mouth topic on the
NIHSeniorHealth Web site. “Saliva does more than keep your mouth wet — it protects
teeth from decay, helps heal sores in the mouth, and prevents infection by controlling
bacteria, viruses, and fungi in the mouth. Dry mouth is more than an annoyance;
it is a medical problem that requires treatment by a dentist or physician. NIHSeniorHealth’s
new dry mouth topic is an excellent source of information on this condition.”
Dry mouth occurs when the salivary glands, which make saliva, no longer work
properly. Many over-the-counter and prescription medications, some cancer treatments,
and an injury to the head or neck all can cause salivary glands to produce less
saliva, resulting in dry mouth. Some diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease and
diabetes, also can affect the salivary glands. Dry mouth is the hallmark symptom
of a fairly common autoimmune disease, Sjögren's syndrome, which targets
the salivary and tear glands. Often, dry mouth cannot be cured, but it can be
managed by avoiding certain foods and beverages, drinking plenty of water, and
talking with your doctor about treatment options.
One of the fastest growing age groups using the Internet, older Americans increasingly
turn to the World Wide Web for health information. In fact, 66 percent of “wired” seniors
surf for health and medical information when they go online. NIHSeniorHealth,
a joint effort of the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the National Library
of Medicine (NLM), was designed especially with seniors in mind. The site is
based on the latest research on cognition and aging. It features short, easy-to-read
segments of information that can be accessed in a variety of formats, including
various large-print type sizes, open-captioned videos, and an audio version.
Additional topics coming soon to the site include osteoporosis and heart disease.
The site links to MedlinePlus, NLM’s premier, more detailed site for consumer
health information.
The NIA leads the Federal effort supporting and conducting research on aging
and the health and well-being of older people. The NLM, the world's largest
library of the health sciences, creates and sponsors Web-based health information
resources for the public and professionals. The NIDCR strives to improve oral,
dental, and craniofacial health through research, training, and the dissemination
of health information. All three are components of the National Institutes
of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, part of the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — The Nation's Medical Research
Agency — includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of
the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary Federal
agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical
research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common
and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov. |