Do you have a dry mouth? Are your lips cracked and sore? You may be wondering if these are signs of HIV. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, it is important to be aware of the symptoms of HIV and how they can differ from person to person. In this blog post, we will discuss the signs and symptoms of HIV and how to get tested for the virus.

  • Dry Mouth
  • Symptoms
  • Causes
  • Dry mouth: One of HIV Signs and Symptoms
  • Complications of dry mouth
  • Treatment for dry mouth
  • At-home remedies for dry mouth

 

 

Dry Mouth: An Overview

Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, is a condition in which your salivary glands don’t produce enough saliva to keep your mouth moist. This is a common side effect of certain medications and aging issues and cancer radiation therapy.

Dry mouth is more commonly caused by a condition that affects the salivary glands directly. Saliva protects teeth from decay by neutralizing bacteria’s acids, inhibiting bacterial development, and washing away food particles. It also improves your sense of taste and makes chewing and swallowing simpler. It also contains enzymes that help digestion.

Symptoms of dry mouth

If you’re not producing enough saliva, you may notice these signs and symptoms all or most of the time:

  • Dryness or a feeling of stickiness in your mouth
  • Saliva that seems thick and stringydry mouth symptoms
  • Bad breath
  • Difficulty chewing, speaking, and swallowing
  • Dry or sore throat and hoarseness
  • Dry or grooved tongue
  • A changed sense of taste
  • Problems wearing dentures

In addition, dry mouth may result in lipstick sticking to the teeth.

Causes of having Dry Mouth

When the salivary glands in your mouth don’t produce enough saliva to keep your mouth moist, you have a dry mouth. Possibly, these glands aren’t functioning properly as a result of:

Medications

Dry mouth is a side effect of hundreds of medicines, including several over-the-counter treatments. Some antihistamines, decongestants, muscle relaxants, and pain medications are more likely to cause problems.

Aging

As people get older, they often experience dry mouth. The contributing factors are the use of certain medications, changes in the body’s ability to process medications, inadequate nutrition, and long-term health problems.

Cancer

dry mouth causesWhether it is oral cancer or any type of cancer, chemotherapy drugs can alter the composition and quantity of saliva produced. It’s possible that this is only temporary and that normal salivary flow will return once the treatment is finished.

Salivary glands can be damaged by radiation treatments to the head and neck, resulting in significantly decreasing saliva production. This could be temporary or permanent depending on the radiation dose and area treated.

Nerve damage

Dry mouth can be caused by a head and neck injury or surgery that causes nerve damage.

Other health conditions

Dry mouth can be caused by autoimmune disorders such as Sjogren’s syndrome or HIV/AIDS and medical problems including diabetes, stroke, yeast infection (thrush) in the mouth, or Alzheimer’s disease.

A dry mouth can also be caused by snoring or breathing through your mouth.

Tobacco, drug, and alcohol addiction

Dry mouth symptoms can be exacerbated by drinking alcohol and smoking or chewing tobacco. Methamphetamine usage, popularly known as “meth mouth,” can cause severe dry mouth and tooth damage. Marijuana use can also produce a dry mouth.

Dry mouth: One of HIV’s Oral Health Problems

Most dental HIV symptoms are mouth sores and ulcers. Although these aren’t sores, gum disease (gingivitis), and dry mouth are common oral infections.

Gum disease causes the gums to swell and can be painful. It can lead to gum or teeth loss in as quickly as 18 months in severe cases. Since your immune system is compromised, gum disease may also indicate inflammation, which increases the risk for heart disease and stroke.

A dry mouth occurs when a person doesn’t produce enough saliva. Saliva can help protect the teeth as well as prevent infections. Without saliva, the teeth and gums are vulnerable to plaque development. This can also make gum disease worse.

If dry mouth persists, ask a healthcare provider about saliva substitutes.

Complications of Dry Mouth

If you are living with HIV, and you don’t have enough saliva and develop a dry mouth, you have an increased risk to develop mouth infections with:

  • Increased plaque, tooth decay, and gum disease
  • Mouth sores (cold sores, oral hairy leukoplakia, canker sores, herpes simplex)
  • Yeast infection in your mouth (a fungal infection causing oral thrush or oral candidiasis, oral warts (human papillomavirus)
  • Sores or split skin at the corners of your mouth (mouth ulcers) or cracked lips
  • Poor nutrition from having trouble chewing and swallowing

Treatment for Dry Mouth

The purpose of dry mouth therapy is to:

  • Manage opportunistic infections and any underlying conditions causing your mouth to dry up.
  • Tooth decay can be avoided.
  • Increase the flow of saliva.

Treatment for dry mouth usually entails several steps.

First, your doctor will go through your prescriptions to see if they’re the source of your dry mouth. You might be able to switch to a different medication instead.

If not, you can try these steps to ease dry mouth:dry mouth treatment

  • Avoid decongestants and antihistamines when possible.
  • Sip water before swallowing capsules or tablets. The water moistens your mouth.
  • Take medication in the morning, not at night. Dry mouth at night is more likely to cause mouth problems such as cavities.
  • Try easy-to-swallow formulas, such as liquids. Avoid under-the-tongue forms.

If you think a prescription medication is causing your dry mouth, don’t just stop taking it. Talk to your healthcare provider first.

Researchers are continuing to work on ways to repair damaged salivary glands. They’re also developing an artificial salivary gland that can be implanted into the body.

At-home remedies for dry mouth

If you have a dry mouth, you must practice good oral hygiene. Brush your teeth twice a day and rinse your mouth with mouthwash. This will aid in the prevention of tooth decay. People who have a dry mouth are more likely to develop cavities and decay.

It’s also crucial to encourage saliva production. Saliva helps keep your mouth and teeth healthy by preventing decay and illness. Some dry mouth solutions can aid in producing more saliva and alleviation of symptoms.

Saliva flow is stimulated by chewing and sucking. Try:

These items may also be beneficial:

  • Artificial saliva products can aid in saliva production. These solutions are frequently offered as a rinse or spray over-the-counter.
  • Dry mouth toothpaste and mouthwashes are available.
  • Lip balm is a product used to moisturize the lips.
  • Humidifier with a cool mist, especially if you sleep with your mouth open.

Try to stay away from:

  • Foods and beverages that are too acidic, spicy, salty, dry, and sweets should be avoided.
  • Caffeine, alcohol, and carbonated beverages are all stimulants.
  • Mouthwashes containing alcohol or peroxide may cause your mouth to become even drier.
  • Smoking.

Treatments for dry mouth and at-home cures can help you feel better. Keeping up with your oral hygiene routine, which includes regular dental visits, is critical. Taking care of your mouth and teeth can help you avoid dry mouth in the long run. If dry mouth is a symptom of a more serious condition like Sjogren’s syndrome, diabetes, or cancer, your prognosis is determined by how that condition is treated.

References:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-mouth/symptoms-causes/syc-20356048

https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/dental-health-dry-mouth

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/10902-dry-mouth-xerostomia

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323849

https://www.aidsmap.com/about-hiv/mouth-problems

https://www.thewellproject.org/hiv-information/hiv-and-your-mouth

https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/sites/default/files/2017-09/mouth-problems-hiv.pdf

https://www.healthline.com/health/hiv-mouth-sores#other-concerns

https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/h/hiv-aids-and-dental-health