What is saliva?
Saliva, or spit, is made by your salivary glands. It helps keep you and your mouth healthy. For example:
- It moistens and breaks down the foods you eat, which makes it easier for you to chew and swallow.
- It washes away small food pieces from your teeth and gums, which helps fight against tooth decay.
- It contains minerals such as calcium and phosphate, which can also help fight tooth decay.
- It contains antibodies that can fight against infections of the mouth and throat. Antibodies are proteins that your immune system makes to fight foreign substances such as viruses and bacteria.
What is dry mouth?
Having dry mouth, also called xerostomia, means that you don't have enough saliva to keep your mouth wet. Everyone has a dry mouth once in a while, like when you are nervous or stressed. But if you have a dry mouth all or most of the time, it can be uncomfortable. It can make chewing, swallowing, and even talking difficult. It also raises your risk for tooth decay or infections in the mouth.
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Dry mouth
- Dry Mouth (National Library of Medicine)... substances such as viruses and bacteria. What is dry mouth? Having dry mouth, also called xerostomia, means that you don't ... to keep your mouth wet. Everyone has a dry mouth once in a while, like when you are ...
- Some cancer treatments and medicines can cause dry mouth. Take good care of your mouth during your cancer treatment. Follow the measures outlined below.
- Dry mouth occurs when you don't make enough saliva. This causes your mouth to feel dry and uncomfortable. Dry mouth that is ongoing may be a sign of ...
- Dry Mouth Treatment: Tips for Controlling Dry Mouth (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)Dry Mouth/Treatments and Therapies ... Dry Mouth ... Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Dry Mouth or Xerostomia (American Society of Clinical Oncology)Dry Mouth/Related Issues ... Dry Mouth ... American Society of Clinical Oncology ... Dry mouth is also called "xerostomia." It happens when the body's salivary glands ...
- Dry mouth, also called xerostomia (ZEER-oh-STOH-mee-ah), is the condition of not having enough saliva. ...
- ... notice changes in your mouth. You may have: Dry mouth Mouth pain Nausea Difficulty swallowing Lost sense of ... toothbrush with soft bristles. Let your toothbrush air dry between brushings. If toothpaste makes your mouth sore, brush with a solution of 1 teaspoon ( ...
- Mouth Disorders (National Library of Medicine)... the cheeks, gums or tongue, common in smokers Dry mouth - a lack of enough saliva, caused by some ...
- Sjogren's Syndrome/NIH MedlinePlus Magazine ... Sjogren's Syndrome ... From the National Institutes of Health ... NIDCR's Blake Warner shares the latest research on ...
- Pilocarpine is used to treat dry mouth caused by radiotherapy in people with head and neck cancer and to treat dry mouth in people with Sjogren's syndrome (a ...
(National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research) 