Although the weather is getting cooler, the air is unusually dry. Elderly people often experience dry mouth at night, which makes it difficult for them to sleep. This can be detrimental to their health in the long run. So, what methods can be used to treat this problem? Let's take a look together with the editor!
Causes of Dry Mouth in the Elderly
1. Abnormal salivary glands
There are many reasons that can lead to gland damage or atrophy, resulting in impaired saliva secretion, such as dry syndrome, or malignancies in the nose, pharynx, or oral and maxillofacial regions after radiotherapy.
2. General condition
The metabolism of salivary glands depends on the overall metabolic condition of the body. Conditions such as diabetes, diabetes insipidus, dehydration, high fever, severe vomiting, diarrhea, diuresis period of acute renal failure, excessive sweating in high temperature environment, etc., can have an impact.
3. Medications
Many medications commonly have the side effect of reducing saliva secretion, causing dry mouth. Specifically, for elderly women, taking antihypertensive or histamine medications can cause reduced saliva secretion and obvious dry mouth.
4. Psychological factors
Due to psychological factors, central salivary secretion abnormalities can occur. Patients with neurasthenia often have symptoms of dry mouth, but they are usually temporary.
5. Local factors in the oral cavity
People who breathe through their mouth all night due to nasal congestion caused by reasons such as nasal polyps or deviated nasal septum will have obvious dry mouth symptoms.
Factors such as missing teeth, dental caries, periodontal disease, and improper dentures can lead to a decrease in chewing function, reducing stimulation to the salivary glands and chewing muscles, and can also cause a decrease in saliva secretion.
6. Oral candidiasis infection
Elderly people who wear full dentures for a long time with a low interdental distance or who wear removable dentures for a long time without paying attention to oral hygiene and denture cleaning are particularly prone to infection with white candida.
The proliferation of hyphae can lead to dry mouth. Similarly, elderly people with anemia are also susceptible to oral candidiasis infection.
Treatment Methods for Dry Mouth
1. Yin deficiency and excessive heat type
Manifestations include thirst with increased water intake, insomnia with frequent dreams, dry stools, yellow urine, hot palms and soles, rapid and thin pulse, red tongue with yellow dry coating, etc. Treatment should focus on nourishing yin and reducing heat, and can use Zhibai Dihuang Wan for treatment.
2. Spleen and stomach excess heat type
Patients have a strong thirst and a preference for cold drinks, yellow urine, dry stools, irritability, restlessness, red tongue with yellow greasy coating, and a strong and forceful pulse. Treatment should focus on clearing heat and reducing fire, and can use Huanglian Shangqing Wan for treatment.
3. Spleen and stomach weakness type
Manifestations include dry mouth but not wanting to drink water, or only drinking a small amount of hot water, decreased appetite, poor digestion, pale red tongue, weak and slow pulse, etc. Treatment should focus on warming and invigorating the spleen and stomach, and can use Buzhong Yiqi Wan for treatment.
4. Kidney yin deficiency type
Patients have dry mouth and a preference for drinking water, but it doesn't affect their eating, frequent urination, aching and weakness in the waist and knees, often accompanied by restlessness and dizziness, red tongue with thin coating, atrophy of the tongue papillae, and a thin and rapid pulse. Treatment should focus on nourishing yin and tonifying the kidneys, and can use Liuwei Dihuang Wan for treatment.
