Xerostomia

Xerostomia or dry mouth occurs when the salivary glands produce too little saliva. The saliva is responsible for the sense of taste, swallowing and speaking to the need. It helps to infections and to prevent tooth decay by neutralizing acids and teeth and gums clean. Chemo-and radiotherapy can damage the salivary glands and cause them to produce less saliva. The mouth is then no longer be able to cleanse itself. The acids in the mouth are not neutralized and the minerals of the teeth are lost. Tooth decay and gum disease are the most likely consequences. The symptoms of dry mouth include:

Thick Liquid, tough saliva
Increased thirst
Change in the sense of taste, swallowing and speaking
Wounds or burning (especially on the tongue)
Cuts or cracks on the lips or mouth angles
Changes in the tongue surface
Difficulty in wearing the prosthesis
When chemotherapy is Xerostomia an acute but temporary complication: the salivary glands to work after the end of chemotherapy and recover back to normal within 2-8 weeks. There is the possibility that the salivary glands after the end of radiotherapy not fully recover the production of saliva falls within 1 week after the start of radiotherapy to the head or neck and is associated with the duration of treatment continues to decline. The extent of dry mouth depends on the radiation dose and the number of irradiated glands from. The salivary glands in the upper cheek area, near the ears, are more affected than other salivary glands. A partial recovery of the salivary glands may be in the first year after radiotherapy succeed, they usually recover but not entirely, especially when the salivary glands were directly irradiated. The non-irradiated salivary glands may be active, to the reduced production of saliva glands destroyed offset. A thorough oral care can help, by the dry mouth caused wounds in the mouth, diseases of the gums and tooth decay to prevent or alleviate.