How Diabetes Can Cause Dry Mouth
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, then you may be more prone to a dry mouth. This is a common symptom of the condition. With both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, leaving dry mouth untreated can cause discomfort and irritation.
Why are diabetics more susceptible?
A Dry Mouth isn’t always just a result of dehydration. Diabetes and Dry Mouth are linked, as diabetes causes a reduction in saliva. With between 40%-80% of diabetics reporting Dry Mouth symptoms, the condition can be a result of diabetes. Reduced saliva can lead to tooth decay or an oral condition such as gingivitis. This nagging complaint can disrupt sleep, cause changes in oral hydration and fluctuations in your sense of smell and taste. Diabetics may also experience Dry Mouth as a result of various medications.
Keeping a dry mouth at bay
It is important to keep mouth saliva flowing and for your mouth to feel moisturized and back to normal, despite the complications of diabetes. A dry mouth can make you self-conscious when trying to hold conversations, and it also makes a simple thing like eating incredibly difficult. There are several ways to help manage this and keep your mouth lubricated.
Look to keep blood sugars within the recommended healthy range and keep yourself regularly hydrated with sugar-free fluids . Keep your mouth as clean and fresh as possible – and include Biotène in your routine. If your lips and the corners of your mouth are dry, ensure you carry a lip balm to help reduce irritation. Making simple dietary changes is also advised. Eating high-water foods like celery regularly will boost hydration and could help reduce the chances of developing a Dry Mouth. Similarly, enjoying broths and adding sauces that are not spicy, to your food could make it easier to eat with a dry mouth.
What can be done about Dry Mouth symptoms?
Although a dry mouth is not one of the most discussed complications of diabetes, it can lead to other health issues if untreated. Water alone cannot provide ongoing relief or enough of a lubricant to ensure the mouth is comfortable for a prolonged period of time. Biotène Dry Mouth Oral Rinse provides an immediate relief for Dry Mouth symptoms for up to 4 hours*. With a pH similar to natural saliva, it acts as a lubricant and moisturizer, to help maintain a healthy oral environment.
Incorporating Biotène Dry Mouth Oral Rinse into your routine as a diabetic could help with your Dry Mouth, if you are practicing good oral hygiene. With an alcohol-free formula, Biotène Dry Mouth Oral Rinse can be used daily to help provide soothing dry mouth symptom relief. With proper planning and management of diabetes and Dry Mouth, you and your loved ones should be able to enjoy a healthier life with fewer uncomfortable symptoms.
*as measured in a 28 day clinical