Reasons why the elderly are prone to dry mouth
Many elderly people often experience dry mouth. Dry mouth is a symptom caused by a decrease in saliva production due to various factors, and it is a physiological or pathological phenomenon. The functions of organs in the elderly are often degenerated to varying degrees, which is an age-related change. The changes in the mouth are more obvious and occur earlier, such as changes in saliva quantity and quality, leading to symptoms such as dry mouth. Some elderly people not only feel dryness in the mouth, but also have a foreign body sensation and burning sensation. It affects swallowing when chewing dry food. Moreover, due to reduced saliva secretion, the flushing and cleaning effect on teeth is weakened, increasing the risk of root surface caries and periodontal disease in the elderly, which has a significant impact on oral health.
Six factors that can cause dry mouth:
1. Abnormal salivary glands: There are many reasons that can cause gland damage or atrophy, resulting in salivary secretion disorders, such as Sjogren's syndrome, radiation therapy after malignant tumors in the nasal, pharyngeal or maxillofacial region, etc.
2. Medications: Many medications commonly have the side effect of reducing saliva secretion, leading to dry mouth. Especially for elderly women, when they take antihypertensive or antihistamine drugs, it can cause decreased salivary secretion and significant dry mouth.
3. General conditions: The metabolism of salivary glands depends on the overall metabolic status of the body. Conditions such as diabetes, diabetes insipidus, dehydration, high fever, severe vomiting, diarrhea, diuresis period in acute renal failure, excessive sweating in high-temperature environments, etc., all have an impact.
4. Psychoneurotic factors: Central salivary secretion abnormalities can occur due to psychological factors. Patients with neurasthenia often have symptoms of dry mouth, but it is usually temporary. Middle-aged and elderly women often experience dry mouth, oral mucosal pain, and burning sensation, which may be due to menopause or a condition called burning mouth syndrome.
5. Local oral factors: Nasal congestion caused by reasons such as nasal polyps or deviated nasal septum can lead to poor nasal ventilation. People who breathe through their mouths overnight will have obvious dry mouth symptoms. Factors such as missing teeth, dental caries, periodontal disease, and ill-fitting dentures can cause a decrease in chewing function, reducing stimulation to salivary glands and chewing muscles, which can also cause reduced saliva secretion.
6. Oral candidiasis infection: Elderly people who have worn full dentures for a long time, have a low intermaxillary distance, or wear removable dentures without paying attention to oral hygiene and denture cleaning are particularly prone to infection by Candida albicans, which can cause dry mouth due to the proliferation of hyphae. Similarly, elderly people with anemia are also prone to oral candidiasis infection.
Differentiating and treating four types of dry mouth
1. Yin deficiency and excessive fire type
Manifested as thirst with increased water intake, frequent insomnia and dreams, dry stools, yellow urine, heat in the hands and feet, thin and rapid pulse, red tongue with yellow dry fur, etc. Treatment should focus on nourishing yin and reducing fire, and Zhibai Dihuang Wan can be used for treatment.
2. Spleen and stomach excess heat type
Patients with this type of dry mouth show thirst and a desire for cold drinks, yellow urine, dry stools, irritability, restlessness, red tongue with yellow and greasy fur, and strong pulse. Treatment should focus on clearing heat and reducing fire, and Huanglian Shangqing Wan can be used for treatment.
Why are the elderly prone to dry mouth? What are the causes of dry mouth in the elderly? How to deal with dry mouth?
3. Spleen and stomach weakness type
Manifested as dry mouth but no desire to drink water, or only a small amount of hot water, reduced appetite, poor digestion, pale red tongue, weak pulse, etc. Treatment should focus on warming and invigorating the spleen and stomach, and Buzhong Yiqi Wan can be used for treatment.
4. Kidney yin deficiency type
Patients with this type of dry mouth show a desire for drinking water, but it does not affect eating, frequent urination, sore and weak lower back and knees, often accompanied by irritability and dizziness, red tongue with thin fur, atrophic papillae on the tongue, and thin and rapid pulse. Treatment should focus on nourishing yin and tonifying the kidneys, and Liuwei Dihuang Wan can be used for treatment.
Dietary principles for dry mouth in the elderly
1. Combination of dry and liquid diet
Try to drink more soup and water during meals, and avoid excessive saltiness and spicy foods.
2. Chew wolfberries
Wolfberries have a sweet and mild nature. They can nourish the liver and kidneys, benefit essence, improve vision, and promote salivation, which can effectively relieve dry mouth. Elderly people can chew about 10 grams of wolfberries in the morning and before bedtime, or boil 10 to 30 grams of fresh wolfberries in water and drink the decoction.
3. Eat more sour fruits and vegetables
Such as hawthorn, apricot, kiwi, strawberry, etc., which are rich in dietary fiber. The chewing process can effectively stimulate saliva secretion. This method is not recommended for elderly people with gastric diseases or excessive gastric acid secretion.
