UNAIR NEWS – Many people often consider dry mouth and throat conditions trivial. This condition, called xerostomia, can be a symptom of a serious illness.
Xerostomia is a dry mouth condition caused by decreased production and secretion of saliva.
“You need to know that xerostomia is not a disease, but a symptom of a disease, or it can also be a side effect of certain medications,” said drg Fatimah Basalamah, resident doctor of Oral Medicine (IPM) Faculty of Dental Medicine (FKG) Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR).
A dry mouth can cause discomfort such as bad breath, chewing and swallowing difficulty, a burning sensation in the mouth, and impaired taste. The observable clinical signs are redness of the tongue and hard palate, slippery tongue surface, and sometimes sores on the lips.
This complaint is often found in the elderly because elderly people are taking more medication, so they have more potential to experience xerostomia.
Causes of xerostomia
Growth disorders, dehydration, nutritional deficiencies, and systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus and HIV/AIDS can cause xerostomia. Viral infections such as hepatitis C and tuberculosis can also be the causes.
“In addition, alcohol dependence, psychological disorders such as anorexia nervosa, the aging process and side effects of radiotherapy treatment can also cause xerostomia,” she said.
Maintain dental and oral health
The oral cavity condition can be a sign of a condition in the body. Therefore the elderly need to maintain healthy teeth and mouth. Apart from age, the dental and oral health of the elderly is also influenced by habits, from nutritional intake to water needs.
“It’s never too late to change habits to improve oral health. Ladies and gentlemen can also have them checked at UNAIR Oral and Dental Teaching Hospital (RSGMP), ” she said.
Apart from drg Fatimah, several other IPM FKG UNAIR Dental Specialist Education Program (PPDGS) students also shared their knowledge at the Healthy Talk Show at Convention Hall Grand City Mall, Surabaya, November 16, 2022. The participants were enthusiastic, as many of them asked.
The talk show is expected to increase public knowledge about oral manifestations and increase enthusiasm to see a dentist if they have complaints. (*) Author: Stefanny Elly
Editor : Binti Q. Masruroh
