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Untreated dry mouth can damage oral health
Dry mouth can be incredibly uncomfortable, even if you’ve only experienced it for a short while.
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A number of things can cause this problem, but certain medications, infections, dehydration, as well as cancer treatments are the most common causes, according to family medicine physician Neha Vyas, MD.
Some medications, radiation and chemotherapy can actually damage the salivary glands, leaving you to deal with the result: dry mouth.
Left untreated, dry mouth, which doctors call xerostomia, can lead to various problems, including:
Over time, you may experience changes in taste, difficulty swallowing, and in some cases, speech changes. You may also notice cracks and cuts on your lips at the corners of your mouth, or you could experience a burning sensation on your tongue.
“Dry mouth usually resolves on its own one to two months after completing chemotherapy, but it can last six months to a year after radiation to the head and neck,” says Dr. Vyas.
Regardless of the cause of your dry mouth, it’s important to do something about it. Dr. Vyas suggests the following:
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Visit your doctor if these treatments do not relieve your discomfort or if you suspect you may have an infection in the mouth.
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