Persistent thirst and dry mouth are the result of a decrease in moisture in the oral mucosa. It is the result of many causes - physiological or pathological. In this case, the work of the oral glands (salivary) is disrupted. They may produce saliva that is too viscous or too little.
Dry mouth is called xerostomia. It implies dryness of any origin. It affects 10% of the world's inhabitants, women are much more likely than men. In the elderly, this number already reaches about 25%. This is due to the fact that the elderly take a large number of different drugs due to the bouquet of diseases characteristic of this age. This is accompanied by an age-related decrease in the activity of the glands themselves.
Functions of saliva
Normally, he althy adult glands produce about 2 liters of saliva. It's imperceptible because she's constantly swallowing. There are 3 pairs of the largest salivary glands - submandibular, sublingual and parotid. All of them have their own excretory ducts in the oral cavity. There are also many small salivary glands in the mouth, but they produce saliva.little.
Saliva constantly moisturizes the oral mucosa, which protects it from cracks, erosions and ulcers. In addition, it contains lysozyme, a bactericidal element of saliva, as well as ready-made antibodies to infections.
Saliva contains water, mineral s alts and carbohydrate processing enzymes already in the mouth. There are also other enzymes for wetting the food bolus and its formation with further swallowing.
The sense of taste is formed with the help of saliva. Salivation also neutralizes lactic acid, which is released by bacteria during caries and protects teeth.
Calcium ions are also found in saliva and protect teeth from decay, as they are actively involved in the remineralization of enamel. Saliva is also needed for clarity of diction.
The consequences of a lack of saliva are not only constant dryness in the mouth and difficulty chewing food. Xerostomia at different times can cause caries, candidiasis and stomatitis, changes in taste sensations and halitosis due to bacterial growth. The body reacts to this with a decrease in immunity.
Xerostomia can be a manifestation of a pathology or some temporary condition due to provoking factors.
Dry mouth disrupts taste buds and food tastes altered, can cause hoarseness, cracks at the corners of the mouth, increased urination, burning, redness of the tongue and lips. Constant viscosity in the mouth noticeably impairs diction.
Etiology of the phenomenon
The most common cause is the use of certain drugs,which, among its side effects, causes a decrease in the production of saliva. Because of this, a constant feeling of thirst and dry mouth is most common in pensioners.
Drugs of this property include:
- hypotensive and hypoglycemic;
- steroid inhalers, neuroleptics and antidepressants;
- antihistamines;
- diuretics;
- anti-inflammatory non-steroids; euthyrox;
- anticoagulants.
This is especially pronounced if 2 different drugs are taken in 1 dose.
Complaints of severe dry mouth and constant thirst do not always cause the doctor to thoroughly investigate the cause. This is difficult to diagnose and indicates poor quality of care.
The doctor most often makes a note in the card of such a patient: xerostomia of unknown etiology. For examination and identification of the causes, it is better to contact large clinics.
Also, the cause of constant thirst and dry mouth can be a violation of the cortical functions of the brain, this is:
- strokes and microstrokes;
- Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease;
- pathology of the trigeminal nerve.
The fact is that with these pathologies, signals to the peripheral nervous system to the salivary glands either do not arrive or are transmitted intermittently. Glandular dysfunction sets in, a constant feeling of thirst in the mouth and dryness.
Dry without thirst
Quite a common occurrence, because its main cause is hypotension. Hypotonic patients feel cephalalgia inneck and temples, weakness, rapid fatigue already 2 hours after getting up in the morning, especially when rising sharply from a horizontal position, dry mouth without thirst in the morning.
It's not uncommon for these people to experience no symptoms at all, and that's normal. But hypotension in any case causes a deterioration in blood flow, which cannot but worsen the functioning of the body.
Persistent dry mouth without thirst with additions in the form of belching, nausea, flatulence, diarrhea and pulling pains in the left hypochondrium is a sign of pancreatitis. Such a disease is sometimes manifested only by dryness. To confirm the diagnosis, you must consult a doctor.
In menopausal women, dry mouth without thirst is caused by menopause. Violation of the hormonal background with a stop in the synthesis of estrogen affects the work of all body systems. Develops, among other things, dryness of the mucous membranes and the oral cavity is also exposed to this.
Other diseases with this symptom include:
- mumps;
- Mikulich's disease (symmetrical enlargement of the salivary and lacrimal glands of a reactive nature);
- sialoadenitis (inflammation of the salivary glands);
- sialostasis (delayed salivation);
- sialolithiasis (growths in gland ducts);
- Sjögren's disease.
Inhalation of air with harmful impurities can also dry out the oral mucosa.
Night dryness
This symptom is not only unpleasant in itself, but also disrupts sleep. Irritability and decreased attentioncephalgia, fatigue. The most common causes of a constant feeling of thirst and dry mouth at night is a nose clogged with mucus with SARS.
Typical for rhinitis, allergies, sinusitis, nasal deformities, due to physical factors.
This combination can be a sign of anemia, tumors (lymphoma), leukemia, a consequence of HIV, concussion, blood infections. At night, dry mouth can be caused by a large amount of protein foods - dairy, meat, beans - because it needs a lot of water to digest and break down. To avoid this, dinner should be light.
Another common and simple reason is sleeping with your mouth open. Typical for snoring people. A running air conditioner also noticeably dries out the air in the room, so humidifiers are needed.
Bitterness and dry mouth
If, in addition to dryness, a person feels bitterness in the mouth all the time, it can only be 2 pathologies - diseases of the liver and gallbladder. Violations of the work of these organs leads to the release of bile and the absorption of decay products into the blood, from where they enter the salivary glands. This provokes bitterness.
Bitterness with sour belching and bad breath is pancreatitis. Stomach ulcers and gastritis can lead to such symptoms.
Dry mouth and burning tongue
With dehydration of the mouth, there may be a burning sensation of the tongue, gums, palate, inside of the cheeks. This is what is called: burning tongue syndrome or glossodynia. Most likely, this is the result of the release of gastric juice into the esophagus.
Burning may occur andat:
- allergies, eating spicy food, using lauryl sulfite toothpaste;
- poor-quality dentures, braces and fillings;
- oral candidiasis;
- cancer treatment;
- deficiency of vitamin B6, zinc and iron; aphthous stomatitis;
- use of antibiotics and antipsychotics;
- amenorrhea;
- frequent consumption of black tea and coffee throughout the day.
Morning dryness
In the morning, dry mouth may be due to insufficient production of saliva or its increased viscosity. Then dryness is not excluded at night.
Dry mouth in the morning is noted with colds, adenoids, tonsillitis. Smokers are very aware of dry mouth in the morning every day.
Causes of constant thirst
The reason for constant thirst and dry mouth can be very simple and banal: excess insolation, the use of a large number of smoked and pickled foods. However, more often it is associated with a pathology such as diabetes. The disease is very dangerous for its consequences.
The onset of a symptom of thirst and dry mouth is usually the main symptom of diabetes. Moreover, this thirst is insatiable, which makes the patient drink more than 3 liters per day, but this does not help either. Diabetics complain about a special thirst, they call it chemical, unnatural - it is so strong.
Against this constant symptom, there is another - frequent urination against the background of constant strong thirst and dry mouth. Raiseurine production occurs under the influence of hyperglycemia.
Other signs include: cracks and jams in the corners of the mouth, weakness, weight changes in any direction, increased appetite, cravings for sweets, itching and pustules on the skin.
In men - balanoposthitis, impotence. The peculiarity of polydipsia in diabetes is that it is insatiable and does not depend on the time of day and ambient temperature. The triad of symptoms - intense thirst, dry mouth and frequent urination - is always present in diabetes.
Dryness and Pregnancy
In pregnant women, dry mouth should not normally occur, since the body of the expectant mother produces saliva and so on in increased quantities. Signs of constant thirst and dry mouth during pregnancy can only be in the hot season with dry air.
Normal thirst during gestation may occur later in pregnancy because of increased urine output. This leads to some dehydration and dry mouth. If a pregnant woman not only has a strong thirst, dry mouth and frequent urination, this may indicate the development of gestational diabetes. Additionally, there is a metallic sour taste. The disease requires treatment.
Another reason for constant thirst and dry mouth in a pregnant woman can be a deficiency in the body of potassium against the background of excess magnesium. Then mineral complexes are prescribed to solve the problem.
Various diseases and conditions with dry mouth
- HIV/AIDS, cancerprovoke atrophy of the salivary glands.
- Arthritis (rheumatoid), strokes and heart attacks increase sweating, which causes dehydration and dry mucous membranes.
- Hypovitaminosis vit. A - causes dryness of the skin, hair and mucous membranes. Retinol deficiency causes severe damage to the epithelium. Its regeneration is disturbed and atrophy develops. Such an epithelium is highly exfoliated and clogs the ducts of the excretory ducts of the salivary glands, where cysts can still form because of this. And although the gland tissue is normal, saliva production is slowing down.
- Increased fluid loss occurs with bleeding, burns, fever, diarrhea and vomiting, such as AII or hyperhidrosis.
- In case of inflammations, injuries of the neck, head, oncological processes, the removal of the salivary glands can be performed.
- Injury to the glossopharyngeal and facial nerve or their nuclei in the medulla oblongata impairs salivation.
- Stress and anxiety, high psycho-emotional stress can sometimes also dry the oral mucosa.
Systemic pathologies
- Scleroderma - is manifested by progressive fibrosis of the skin, internal organs (heart, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys), vascular damage of the type of obliterating endarteritis with a decrease in their lumen due to muscle spasms. Not only the skin is affected, but also the mucous membranes, then the tongue thickens, its frenulum shortens and the oral mucosa dries. Scleroderma often coexists with Sjögren's syndrome.
- Sjögren's disease is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by dryness of all mucous membranes due to lymphoidproliferation of exogenous glands (especially salivary and lacrimal).
- Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary disease in which all exocrine glands are affected. Then the respiratory organs, gastrointestinal tract, etc. are also affected. The disease manifests itself already in the first month of life. Such children have a good appetite, but no weight gain. They begin to suffer from saliva viscosity, shortness of breath and cyanosis, bouts of dry cough.
Principles of Therapy
Treatment should be comprehensive, chosen after the precise diagnosis of the cause of the disease. In addition, it should be accompanied by smoking cessation. If medications are to blame for dryness, you may need to reduce the dose.
Don't overs alt your food. It is better not to use alcohol-containing rinses. For dental problems, the dentist may prescribe artificial saliva substitutes.
Common accompanying symptoms of dryness
Associated symptoms of constant thirst, dry mouth and causes:
- Weakness. When the oral cavity dries, a person quickly begins to feel constant weakness without a hint of cheerfulness. This may be due to a viral infection, external intoxication; manifestation of anemia; oncology; CNS diseases. Weakness is an early sign of many diseases. Especially if it is combined with dry mouth.
- Nausea. Dry mouth and nausea are often associated with thirst. Usually occur with AII and food poisoning. They appear first in the clinical picture. But they can also be just an error in nutrition - for example, after a strict dieta man suddenly decided to have a belly feast.
- Dry lips. Occurs with an increase in the size of the excretory ducts of the salivary glands that border the lips. The lower lip becomes chapped, dry and flaky. Jams and cracks appear in the corners of the mouth. In chronic cheilitis, the process may become malignant.
- Plaque on the tongue. Dry mouth and non-removable plaque on the tongue occur with gastritis, colitis, stomach ulcers, duodenal ulcers. Plaque on the tongue can be white - with pathologies of the stomach; yellow - with cholecystitis and hepatitis, pancreatitis.
- Red tongue and swollen tonsils are nasopharyngeal infections. If the tongue burns, there is a metallic taste in the mouth - gum disease or caries. If acute pains in the abdomen or cramps also join, an acute abdomen or pancreatitis can be suspected. Better see a surgeon.
- Bitterness in the mouth. The combination of dryness with bitterness in the mouth - clearly indicates the pathology of the biliary system, as already mentioned.
- Severe dizziness and dry mouth indicate cerebrovascular accident. This may be a brain disease in the initial stage or the resulting intoxication of the body.
- Frequent urination. It accompanies polydipsia, sweating and persistent dry mouth, all signs of diabetes. The fact is that hyperglycemia increases osmotic pressure, which attracts and retains water inside the vessels. The mucous membranes begin to dry, they gave the liquid into the blood. Hence the constant thirst. There is a vicious circle - polydipsia causes frequent urination, sweating, causing thirst again.
Do it yourself
If the dryness of the tongue is only related to physiology, living conditions can be changed: the bedroom should be cool, use a fan or air conditioner for this.
It is important to observe the water-drinking regime - at least 2 liters of water per day. Useful natural juices and herbal teas - with chamomile, mint, lemon balm - they have a sedative and anti-inflammatory effect.
According to older patients, mint is great for bad breath. Bitterness in the mouth will be removed by chewing gum without sugar. From juices it is good to drink apple, orange, lemon, cranberry. They increase immunity and increase saliva production. Nutrition should be balanced - s alty and sweet should be excluded, especially in the form of night snacks.
Both doctors and patients in the reviews note that hot peppers in food increase saliva production. To quench thirst and dryness in the morning, you can keep a glass of water with lemon juice or herbal tea ready by the bed.
Before going to sleep, you can suck on a sugar-free lollipop or hold a piece of ice in your mouth. Also, many patients are advised to rinse their mouth for 10 minutes with olive, sea buckthorn or other vegetable oil. Choose good quality toothpaste and mouthwash.
