What are the symptoms of dry mouth?
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Dry or sticky feeling in the mouth
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bad breath (bad breath)
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have trouble speaking and eating
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Sore throat or hoarseness
More than 80% of cancer patients experience dry mouth (called xerostomia) after radiation to the head and neck or after certain medications. Patients may experience dry mouth, especially during sleep. The symptoms of dry mouth, also known as “cotton mouth,” should not be ignored. Not only is the dry feeling distracting and painful, it can also lead to infections, cavities, and cavities. Additionally, it can interfere with good eating habits that keep your body strong and well-nourished.
“Dry mouth can affect your health and recovery from cancer, so it’s important to understand why dry mouth can affect your health and recovery from cancer,” said Jason Hou, a pharmacist in the Integrative Medical Services (IMS) at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). It’s important to be careful.” “We know what helps with dry mouth.”
Here, Dr. Hou, who maintains MSK’s About Herbs database, suggests some natural dry mouth remedies.
how to get rid of dry mouth
If your dry mouth is caused by antihistamines, anti-nausea medications, or pain medications: Your doctor may be able to change your medication to relieve your symptoms.
For dry mouth after radiation: There are prescription and over-the-counter treatments that may be effective, but they come with side effects.
What works for your dry mouth depends on whether you can still produce saliva. Before trying one or more of these home remedies, we recommend that you get diagnosed with xerostomia.
To cure dry mouth, make your own mouthwash
Dr. Hou suggests making your own mouthwash from salt and baking soda to alleviate dry mouth. The combination of water, salt, and baking soda is similar to our saliva.
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Mix 1/4 teaspoon baking soda and 1/8 teaspoon salt in 1 cup of warm water.
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Rinse in your mouth for a few seconds, then rinse with water.
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Repeat every 3 hours.
If you want to stop using mouthwash, use a humidifier and keep liquids nearby to keep your mouth and throat moist. You don’t need over-the-counter mouthwashes that contain additional ingredients, says Dr. Hou. Ordinary water is also fine.
Sugarless chews and lozenges help with dry mouth
If you are still able to produce saliva, the act of chewing and sucking stimulates saliva production. Try chewing sugarless gum or sucking lozenges containing xylitol. For lozenges, Dr. Hou recommends ones containing aslippa elm or marshmallow root. These herbs contain mucilage, a substance that coats your tongue, mouth, and throat and helps trap moisture in your mouth.
Edible oil is a cure for dry mouth
Some people find relief from dry mouth by holding a few tablespoons of coconut or sesame oil in their mouth for 10 to 15 minutes without swallowing. This home approach, based on the “oil pulling” method of Ayurvedic medicine, “is a traditional practice that is safe in modern times,” says Dr. Hou. This natural method of treating dry mouth is effective as the oil coats and soothes the irritated area while cleaning the mouth.
Ginseng and other herbal medicines for dry mouth
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that dry mouth is caused by a lack of body fluids and/or an inability to produce fluids. Chinese medicine experts sometimes describe these symptoms as “yin deficiency.” Depending on the person and the cause of dry mouth, certain combinations of herbs, including but not limited to American ginseng and Asian ginseng, may be helpful in nourishing the yin, restoring balance within the body and producing fluids. Helpful. Ask your IMS provider about herbs and herbal prescriptions to consider. Before taking ginseng or any other herb, check with your doctor about side effects and interactions with other medications.And Dr. Hou recommends yohimbe, guarana, toothache plant, and Sarkandra glabra. Some of these can have harmful effects.
Acupuncture for dry mouth
To treat dry mouth, acupuncturists insert thin, disposable needles into the skin to increase stimulation of the mouth and throat. Most people experience little or no pain from the needles, and the practitioner removes them after about 30 minutes.
A 2008 study published in BMC complementary medicine and therapy The journal showed that acupuncture may work by activating the part of the brain that makes saliva. When the researchers stimulated acupuncture points on their index fingers, MRI scans showed that saliva-producing areas of the brains of healthy volunteers lit up. Nothing happened when the volunteers received sham (fake) acupuncture.
Another study published in Journal of Clinical Oncology In 2010, we showed that people who developed xerostomia after radiation treatment for head and neck cancer experienced sustained relief with acupuncture, as opposed to painkillers and other traditional medicines. Those with the most severe dry mouth tended to see the greatest improvement.
Acupuncture treatment is available at MSK. Please contact a member of your care team for more information.
What should I do if I can’t make saliva?
In some cases, cancer treatment can prevent the salivary glands from working to their full potential. Oral lubricants, over-the-counter artificial saliva, and medications that stimulate the salivary glands provide temporary solutions. Ask your oncology team what can help. It is also important to continue receiving regular oral health checkups.
conclusion
Dry mouth can be a frustrating side effect of cancer treatment, but your MSK care team can help you manage it and relieve your symptoms.
