Dry mouth

Definition

口干发生在你唾液分泌不足的时候. 这会导致你的口腔感到干燥和不舒服. 持续的口干可能是生病的征兆, 还会导致口腔和牙齿出现问题.

Alternative Names

Xerostomia; Dry mouth syndrome; Cotton mouth syndrome; Cotton mouth; Hyposalivation; Oral dryness

Considerations

唾液帮助你分解和吞咽食物，保护牙齿免受蛀牙. 缺乏唾液可能会导致口腔和喉咙粘稠、干燥的感觉. Your saliva may become thick or stringy. Other symptoms may include:

• Cracked lips
• Dry, rough, or raw tongue
• Loss of taste
• Sore throat
• 口腔有灼烧感或刺痛感
• Feeling thirsty
• Difficulty speaking
• Difficulty chewing and swallowing

口腔中唾液过少会增加产酸细菌的数量. This can lead to:

• Bad breath
• 龋齿和牙龈疾病增加
• Increased risk for yeast infection (thrush)
• Mouth sores or infections

Causes

当唾液腺不能分泌足够的唾液来保持口腔湿润或完全停止分泌唾液时，就会发生口干.

Common causes of dry mouth include:

• Many medicines, both prescription and over-the-counter, such as antihistamines, decongestants, 以及治疗高血压等疾病的药物, anxiety, depression, pain, heart disease, asthma or other respiratory conditions, and epilepsy
• Dehydration
• 头部和颈部的放射疗法会损害唾液腺
• 化疗会影响唾液的分泌
• 唾液分泌神经的损伤
• Health problems such as Sjögren syndrome糖尿病、艾滋病、帕金森病、囊性纤维化或阿尔茨海默病
• 因感染或肿瘤而摘除唾液腺
• Tobacco use
• Drinking alcohol
• 街头毒品使用，如吸食大麻或使用冰毒

如果你感到压力或焦虑，你也会口干, breathe through your mouth, or become dehydrated.

Dry mouth is common in older adults. 但衰老本身并不会导致口干. 老年人往往有更多的健康问题，服用更多的药物, which increases the risk of dry mouth.

Home Care

试试这些方法来缓解口干症状:

• 喝大量的水或液体来保持体内水分.
• 吮吸冰片，冷冻葡萄，或无糖的冷冻水果，帮助保持口腔湿润.
• 嚼无糖口香糖或硬糖刺激唾液分泌.
• 试着用鼻子而不是嘴巴呼吸.
• Use a humidifier at night when sleeping.
• 试试非处方的人工唾液或口腔喷雾剂或保湿霜.
• 使用专为口干而配制的漱口水，帮助滋润口腔，保持口腔卫生.

在饮食中做出以下改变可能会有所帮助:

• Eat soft, easy-to-chew food.
• Include cool and bland foods. Avoid hot, spicy and acidic foods.
• 吃液体含量高的食物，比如那些有肉汁、肉汤或酱汁的食物.
• Drink liquids with your meals.
• 在吞咽之前，将面包或其他硬的或脆的食物浸泡在液体中.
• 把食物切成小块，这样更容易咀嚼.
• Eat small meals and eat more often.

有些东西会让口干更严重，所以最好避免:

• Sugary drinks
• 咖啡、茶和软饮料中的咖啡因
• Alcohol and alcohol-based mouth washes
• 酸性食物，如橙汁或葡萄柚汁
• 干燥、粗糙的食物可能会刺激你的舌头或嘴巴
• Tobacco and tobacco products

To take care of your oral health:

• Floss at least once per day. It is best to floss before brushing.
• 使用含氟牙膏，用软毛牙刷刷牙. 这有助于防止牙釉质和牙龈受损.
• Brush after every meal.
• 定期去看牙医. 和你的牙医谈谈检查的频率.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Contact your health care provider if:

• 你的口干不会消失
• You have trouble swallowing
• 你嘴里有灼烧感
• You have white patches in your mouth

What to Expect at Your Office Visit

正确的治疗包括找出口干的原因.

Your provider will:

• Review your medical history
• Examine your symptoms
• 看看你正在服用的药物

Your provider may order:

• Blood tests
• Imaging scans of your salivary gland
• 唾液流量收集测试，以测量唾液在你的口腔生产
• 根据需要进行其他检查以诊断原因

如果你的药物是原因，你的十大赌博平台排行榜可能会改变药物的类型或剂量. Your provider may also prescribe:

• 促进唾液分泌的药物
• 唾液替代品可以代替口腔中的天然唾液

References

Elluru RG. Physiology of the salivary glands. 见:Flint PW, Francis HW, Haughey BH，等编. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 81.

国家牙科和颅面研究所网站. Dry mouth. www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/dry-mouth. Updated September, 2022. Accessed June 8, 2023.

Pham KL, Mirowski GW. 口腔疾病及胃肠道、肝脏疾病的口腔表现. 见:Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ编. Sleisenger & 胃肠和肝脏疾病. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 24.

Popovtzer A, Eisbruch A. 头颈癌的放射治疗:放射物理学、放射生物学和临床原理. 见:Flint PW, Francis HW, Haughey BH，等编. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 75.