Many chronic diseases may lead to Dry Mouth1. More than 40% of diabetics have these problems. They can be caused by polyuria, high blood sugar levels or medication. Other medical conditions that may cause xerostomia are heart and vascular diseases, autoimmune diseases like Sjögren’s syndrome, SLE and rheumatoid arthritis, prolonged stress and anxiety, Parkinson’s disease and stroke.
Most cases of xerostomia are the side effect of the use of medication2,3. There are hundreds of prescription and non-prescription drugs associated with xerostomia2. A few specific categories of drugs that can lead to this condition are:
Simultaneous use of 3 or more different types of medication increases the likelihood of developing xerostomia by 40%.
Radiotherapy or surgery in the head- and neck region may cause severe disturbance in the saliva production, leading to serious discomfort for those patients.
Clinical studies show that the use of bioXtra significantly improves the symptoms of xerostomia and reduces its impact on Quality of Life. 4,5,6,7
Wherever possible, patients should be encouraged and supported to carry out their own oral care. However, when they are unable to do this, maintaining patients’ oral hygiene is an essential nursing duty and is considered a fundamental aspect of healthcare8.
Aspiration of bacteria in oropharyngeal secretions is an important risk factor for pneumonia in the young and elderly. Poor oral health may also contribute to the development of pneumonia. Raised education and awareness of oral health and its links to pneumonia are imperative in its prevention and treatment9.