Sjogren’s Syndrome has a variety of symptoms. At first, they seemed minor to me. But, the combined affect was profound. Dry mouth sjogren syndrome affected my work. It disrupted my social life. It eroded my confidence.
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Dry Mouth
picture of early dry mouth provided by mollysfund.org
Dry mouth is a common problem. Many things can cause dry mouth.
Excessive use of alcohol
Medication Side Affects
Excessive Exercise
Medical Treatments
Medical Conditions
Food Allergies
The Environment
Weather
The condition can be frequent but temporary. For me, it was chronic. I tried treating my dry mouth with a drink. I used gum to stimulate saliva. Chronic dry mouth is quite different. I needed to apply moisture continuously.
Dry Mouth Sjogren Syndrome
The Sjogren’s Syndrome Foundation states that,
“Dry mouth ….. is a common symptom most often caused by a decrease in the amount or quality of saliva. Almost every Sjögren’s patient experiences some degree of dry mouth.”
Dry mouth, Sjogren Syndrome is continuous It is irritating at work because its difficult for me to talk. My completely dry mouth disturbs my sleep. The taste and texture of food and drink has changed. The constant use of mouth spray is embarrassing.
Why Dry Mouth?
Mayo clinic. com points out that, “In Sjogren’s syndrome, the mucous membranes and moisture-secreting glands of your eyes and mouth are usually affected first — resulting in decreased production of tears and saliva.
My first indication of a problem was irritation in my eyes. I also noticed that my mouth dried out. My tongue would stick to the room of my mouth. I wanted to understand why. These symptoms didn’t disappear with a diagnosis. But, I understood them.
WebMD explains:
“Your white blood cells, which normally protect you from germs, attack the glands that are in charge of making moisture. When that happens, they can’t produce tears and saliva.”
That’s a fancy way of saying that I had dry mouth sjogren syndrome.
Dry Mouth Relief
There are lots of products that offer relief from dry mouth. None are long lasting. I have found that, because these products are used so frequently, the easier they are to apply the better. Here are some products I use.
Biotene Moisturizing Mouth Spray keeps your mouth fresh and healthy. It contains beneficial enzymes found naturally in the mouth providing relief for the symptoms of dry mouth. Naturally sweetened with xylitol, this Moisturizing Spray is a pleasant-tasting oral product that is sugar and alcohol free. This spray is an instant treatment for the symptoms of stress or other conditions that can leave your mouth dry.
Squeezing 1/4 inch of this gel into your mouth can provide longer lasting relief of the symptoms of dry mouth whatever the cause. The pleasant taste allows you to enjoy some relief of the dryness you are experiencing.
Carry a container of cool water with you all the time . Take a sip now and then. Don’t wait until your mouth is very dry to add moisture.
Dry mouth has been an irritant for me for a long time. I have learned how to find temporary relief. This has helped me function during the day and sleep better at night.
Why do you have dry mouth. Do any reasons fit? Do you have other symptoms related to your dry mouth. Tell your doctor.
Please add you thoughts about Dry Mouth in the comment section below. Are you experiencing dry mouth? How do you treat dry mouth? Does it affect your life? Does your doctor know?
This site offers non-medical opinions about life with Sjogren’s Syndrome. Images are clickable links to more information or other websites. This site is affiliated with Amazon.com and other companies and may receive a commission if items are purchased through this site. DiagnosisSjogren’s.com accepts no payments. Each company is responsible for their shipping and quality control of their products.
Hey James
This is a very uncomfortable disorder I bet. My grandmother has Sjogrens and she can only eat moist foods and often chokes on her food. I am worried that one day the choking will go too far. That’s why I worry about if she is taking the right treatments and moisturizers. Thanks for the information.
It is concerning. Usually not fatal, but incredibly life altering. My wife also has to eat very moist foods. I hope you grandmother improves. Thanks for you comment.