Thursday, December 17, 2009

Treatment For Dry Mouth

Dry mouth is the result of a decrease in the amount of saliva. This condition may be linked to dehydration, use of medications such as antihistamines and atropine, radiation therapy involving the salivary glands, vitamin deficiency, and anxiety. Other conditions not related to the salivary glands at all can also lead to dry mouth such as damage to the nerves in the mouth resulting from head trauma, surgery in the neck area, or wounds. Stroke or Alzheimer’s disease can also change a person’s ability to feel sensations in the mouth. Doctors call this condition hyposalivation, xerostomia and asialorrhea.
Dry mouth can cause major health problems because it can affect how a person eats, and thus cause nutritional deficiencies. The mouth becomes crusty, parched and sensitive making it hard for the person to acidic or spicy foods. Even drinking orange juice can be a challenge since the acid will sting the sores that usually develop in the dry parts in the mouth. Chewing and swallowing will be difficult if there is less saliva to help moisten and soften food. The quality and taste of food is also perceived to be poor by people with dry mouth, thus decreasing their appetite. Dry mouth can also contribute to tooth decay and other serious infections of the mouth that can lead to bad breath problems.
The treatment for dry mouth depends on the underlying cause. However, there are some steps you can take to protect the overall health of your mouth and your teeth. Brushing at least once a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing at least twice a day are important to maintain the cleanliness of your mouth and teeth. These will keep the growth of damaging bacteria in check. You can relieve the discomforts of dry mouth and protect the soft tissues inside the mouth by taking frequent sips of plain water or any drink without sugar. Stay away from soft drinks, coffee and tea. Drinking frequently as you eat will help you in chewing and swallowing food easier and improve the taste of food. Chewing a sugarless gum will help promote the production of saliva in the mouth.

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Post Nasal Drip Cough Relief

One of the many unpleasant symptoms of post nasal drip is coughing. Imagine that while you have to endure the irritating sensation of dripping mucus at the back of your throat and nose, you still have to suffer this additional nuisance. Coughing in this case can be treated by first finding out what is causing your post nasal drip. Resolving the cause can in turn, improve your condition and eliminate coughing.
If your post nasal drip is caused by allergens such as animal dander, pollen, house dust, dust mites, some of your favorite foods, you can try the different over-the-counter medicines available in your local drugstore. Look for those that have antihistamines. If it is accompanied by colds, you can try OTC cold remedies to get rid of excess mucus from your throat. Since post nasal drip can also be caused by pregnancy or changing hormonal levels, women should talk to their primary health care provider about medications they should take.
Nasal sprays are also effective in treating post nasal drip. You can try the various sprays available. They reduce the mucus that has accumulated at the back of your throat and nose, thus reducing the tendency to cough. Be aware however, that you should not use nasal sprays beyond 3 consecutive days as using them longer could result to damage in your nasal cavities.
Dairy products like milk, ice cream, yogurt and cheese can thicken your mucus and aggravate your post nasal drip induced cough. Therefore, avoiding them while you have post nasal drip will help alleviate your coughing. The simplest treatment however, is to drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Warm herbal teas or natural fruit juices can also help since they can help thin and loosen the thick mucus, thus preventing coughing. Gargling with warm water mixed with ½ teaspoon salt can help clean and flush the mucus from the back of your throat. Gargling with this solution twice a day can help improve your condition.

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Treatment for Post Nasal Drip

Your nose and sinuses are producing mucus even as you are reading this article. In fact, if your nose and sinuses are in top healthy shape, they should be producing almost 2 liters of mucus each day and you are not even aware of it. Mucus helps in cleaning, humidifying and heating the air we breathe before they enter our lungs. This is important because otherwise, our lungs will be harmed by cold air. The mucus that is normally produced is of the right consistency so that it can easily pass through the nasal lining.
Some factors affect the production of mucus and cause post nasal drip. This is a condition where the mucus drips into the back of the nose and the throat causing it to accumulate there and further cause other problems such as sore throat and bad breath. The mucus can either become very thick or too thin to do its job effectively. Post nasal drip can be caused by dry air, air pollution, allergy, dust mites, pollen or animal dander (from dogs or cats.) Chronic sinusitis is often accompanied by post nasal drip too, as well as painful headaches.
Treatment for post nasal drip involves making sure that the linings of your nasal and sinus cavities are moist. For this purpose, you can use nasal spray using saline solution made up of about ½ teaspoon salt mixed with 8 ounces of warm water. This saline solution also acts as a mild decongestant and a nasal moisturizer. If you are unsure about mixing it yourself, you can buy a nasal saline spray from your favorite pharmacies without a prescription. Six to eight glasses of water will also help hydrate your entire body, including the nasal and sinus cavities. Drinks containing alcohol and caffeine, and cigarettes should be avoided as they can dehydrate the body. If you have to drink or smoke, compensate by drinking at least 3 eight-ounce glasses of water before bedtime.

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Sore Throat Caused by Post Nasal Drip

Suffering from post nasal drip is bad enough but when you get sore throat on top of that, then everything will seem just a bit short of a disaster. The good news is that treating your post nasal drip also helps banish your sore throat. Even if you are unsure if your sore throat is caused by post nasal drip, it is best that you treat it as you would if it was caused by post nasal drip.
A sore throat lasting form more than five days should alert you to see a doctor immediately. If it lasts for 5 days, your sore throat could be due to a bacterial infection or tonsillitis. Drinking plenty of water or warm herbal tea concoctions such as ginger root, sage or chamomile, which are known to posses antimicrobial properties, can also help eliminate sore throat. This helps hydrate your system and control post nasal drip by keeping the linings of your throat moist. Gargling for at least 30 seconds with warm water mixed with a bit of salt can also go a long way in soothing your irritated throat. Do this several times during the day. Some people swear they have been relieved by sucking on a fresh garlic clove. Using a facial steamer with several drops of eucalyptus oil has also helped many people. You can also try mixing water, 1 tablespoon each of raw apple cider and raw honey, and sipping the solution several times a day.
Be careful with the pain medications you take. Only take acetaminophen or ibuprofen to control the pain. Children should not take aspirin as this can cause Reyes syndrome. A humidifier installed in your room can also keep sore throat at bay. It keeps the air moist which is what a sore throat needs. You can use steam vaporizers too, if you want to mix the water with a medicated inhalant.

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Post Nasal Drip Remedies

Having a well-formed nose is part of having good looks. But when it comes to maintaining the body in good health, what matters is what goes on inside the nose and not how it looks on the outside. The linings of our nasal and sinus cavities have glands that produce about 2 liters of mucus which is necessary for the lubrication of the membranes located in our nose, mouth, throat and sinuses. If everything goes on normally, we are usually not conscious of these events. We only become aware when something goes wrong. We feel a dripping sensation at the back of our throat and mucus starts to accumulate there. This is condition is called post-nasal drip and this can be caused by a lot of things such as allergies, environmental pollution, sinus infections, cold air, diuretics and certain medications.
Here are some post nasal drip remedies that you can try for yourself.
Nasal irrigation. Mix ½ teaspoon salt and 8 ounces warm water in a clean container. Transfer this solution to an infant aspirator. Put the aspirator tip in one of your nostril and hold your nose straight back. Place the aspirator at right angle with your face and try to such the salt water into your nose. The water will flow through your mouth. Spit the water and do the same with the other nostril. This might be uncomfortable the first time but you can easily do it with practice. When done, be sure to blow your nose to eliminate excess salt water.
Gargle using saltwater. The same solution as above will work too. Gargling will clear your throat of excessive mucus that has accumulated.
Blow your nose often. Blowing actually gets rid of mucus from the nose. Don’t put tissues or cotton swabs inside your nostrils as this could do damage inside.
Drink plenty of fluids and relax. Fluids, especially warm water or herbal tea with honey and lemon, help loosen the mucus that has accumulated in the upper portion of the pharynx. Stress can cause overproduction of mucus in the nasal lining. Relaxing can help stop this from happening and you will also feel good.

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Remedies For Post Nasal Drip

Post nasal drip is a very unpleasant condition. It is caused by excess mucus that accumulates at the back of your throat and often leads to cough, sore throat and bad breath, or halitosis. Having bad breath is very embarrassing, but what makes it worse is that usually the sufferer is the last one to know. If you have in fact bad breath now, you wouldn’t know it unless somebody tells you, and that somebody may not have the courage to tell it to you upfront unless you ask that person to be totally honest with you. You will only suspect that you have this condition when the people you are talking with start to cover their nose or turn their head away to avoid smelling your bad breath. Your best recourse to stop bad breath caused by post nasal drip is to correct the underlying condition.
There are many remedies for post nasal drip. Some of them can be readily found at your home such as hot soup or herbal tea. The heat can help loosen and flush out excess mucus. One very common and effective home remedy is drinking lots of water which can help drain the mucus from the back of the throat. For some people, nasal irrigation helps a lot in alleviating the discomfort resulting from post nasal drip. You can use a neti pot, a nasal douche, or nasal spray. It is important to use warm water mixed with a small amount of salt or baking soda when irrigating your nose or to gargle. A lot of post nasal drip sufferers have also found using a facial steamer or a humidifier effective.
Some of the foods and drinks we consume contribute to the development of post nasal drip. Such items include coffee, alcohol, and spicy or creamy foods. You can also try resting for some period since stress can also cause this condition.

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Dry Mouth and Bad Breath

We have all experienced dry mouth at one time or another in our life. It can be caused by the malfunctioning of the salivary glands or as side effect of some medicines such as decongestants, antihistamines, diuretics, tranquilizers and even blood pressure medicines. Occasional dry mouth is normal but if you have it most of the time, you need to consult your doctor. Bad breath can accompany dry mouth; in fact dry mouth can cause halitosis, a condition wherein a person has offensive, foul or unpleasant breath. Dry mouth can cause more bacteria to become concentrated in the saliva, making them evaporate more easily into the surrounding air. The offensive odor is stronger and easily detectable even at farther distances. The pH balance inside the mouth is changed, providing a more conducive environment for the anaerobic bacteria to grow. Dry mouth also means the reduction of the cleansing and flushing effect of saliva, which in turn leads to more bacterial growth and more accumulation of food debris in the mouth.
Dry mouth is commonly experienced by the elderly, by those who have insufficient water or fluid intake, or those using mouth wash which are alcohol based. It can also be experienced by those taking anti-allergy medications, blood pressure medications, anti-depressives and diuretics. Those who drink excessive amounts of coffee can also experience dry mouth.
The simplest remedy for dry mouth is to drink the recommended amount of water each day. Consuming less than eight glasses of water daily can contribute to dry mouth. Some experts also recommend chewing sugarless gum to help increase the production of saliva. Sipping water regularly, avoiding breathing through the mouth, and using a room humidifier can help alleviate the discomfort and resulting bad breath. It is also important that you pay close attention to the condition of your teeth. You need to brush them using extra-soft tooth brush if possible after every meal and before bedtime.

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Post Nasal Drip Bad Breath

Most people usually associate bad breath with poor oral hygiene. While this may be true in some cases, there are other causes which are equally important but often overlooked. One such cause of bad breath is post-nasal drip. The first thing a person who suspects that he or she has bad breath will do is thoroughly clean his teeth by brushing and flossing, and gargling products that promise fresh breath. However, these only mask bad breath and don’t actually go to the main cause of the problem.
Post nasal drip bad breath is caused by the continuous flow of excessive mucus produced in the nasal cavities. Mucus drips down and accumulates at the back of the tongue where it provides food to the bacteria living there. Mucus is made up of proteins which when eaten by the bacteria create sulfur compounds, which we smell as the familiar bad breath. It is this accumulation of mucus at the back of the throat that people who have sinus problems and nasal drip tend to have bad breath.
Relief from post nasal drip bad breath can be obtained by treating the underlying problem. The goal is to stop the flow of excessive nasal discharged so that the bacteria that causes the bad odor is eliminated or reduced. The sinus problem that causes the post nasal drip must be evaluated and treated by a doctor. To correctly diagnose your condition, your doctor may order a detailed examination of your nose, ear and throat. The doctor may also require you to undergo some laboratory tests, x-ray studies and endoscopic procedures. Depending on the causes of your post-nasal drip, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics, antihistamines and decongestants, and other general measures to expel your mucus secretions easily such as not drinking coffee and diuretics, nasal irrigation and nasal sprays.

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How To Stop Post Nasal Drip

Treating post nasal drip usually involves identifying the allergens causing it and avoiding them altogether. An allergen is a substance or an antigen (a protein molecule) that can cause an abnormal hypersensitive reaction in your body. Some known allergens are mold, pollen, cat and dog dander, dust mites, house dust, and unfortunately some of your favorite foods.
Your best treatment option to stop post-nasal drip is to avoid contact with these allergens. The big problem besides avoiding them however, is identifying which of these allergens are causing your post nasal drip problem. Your doctor can help you by looking at your medical history which gives details of any possible exposure to any of the known allergens or irritants, both at work and at home. While your detailed medical history can be an important tool to identify the causes, it may still fail to reveal the right allergic trigger. If this is your case, then you may have to see an allergy specialist or immunologist who will perform skin tests to identify the particular allergen that has been causing you problems.
Some simple tricks to help you avoid allergens include installing air purifiers or humidifier, cleaning or changing heating and air conditioning filters, using synthetic materials or cotton in beddings and pillows, using a pollen mask while cleaning around the house or mowing the grass in your garden, getting rid of house plants, keeping your windows close when pollens abound, and frequent bathing of your pets to eliminate dander. You can also take medications to treat your post-nasal drip such as steroid nasal sprays, oral steroids, antihistamines, decongestant sprays, and oral decongestants. You can also take medications for thinning the mucus and allergy shots. Combinations of these medications have also been developed. Such combinations include an antihistamine and a decongestant, and others like mucus thinner and anti-cough medicines. These combinations are designed to work together so you can get the most benefits.

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Causes Of Post Nasal Drip

Our nose helps us not only to smell the food we eat but also helps to enhance our eating experience. It also warms, cleanses and humidifies the air we suck into our lungs so we can breathe easier. Our nose normally produces around 2 liters of mucus which helps in cleaning the respiratory tract and keeping it moist. Post-nasal drip is the accumulation of mucus in the back of the nose and throat which gives way to the sensation of dripping mucus. Such condition may lead to chronic cough or chronic sore throat. One of the causes of post nasal drip is excessive mucus secretions. It can also be caused the failure of the mucus to be cleared from our nose and throat.
Excessive thin mucus secretions can be caused by cold temperatures, viruses, and allergies. Certain foods, changes in the hormone levels, and certain drugs can also cause the nose to produce too much mucus. On the other hand, excessive thick secretions can be caused by low a sinus or nasal infection, tobacco smoke, and low humidity among others.
Some conditions that can cause the failure of the mucus secretions to be cleared from the nose and the throat are swallowing problems which can be aggravated by stress, gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), advancing age, and muscle or nerve disorders.
Since post-nasal drip is caused by an underlying condition, treatment usually involves identifying the underlying condition and correcting it accordingly. If it is caused by allergies for example, you must identify and avoid your known allergens such as pollen, animal dander, house dust, pollen, some foods, and dust mites. It can be very difficult to identify and avoid which particular allergen is affecting you. You can prevent allergies by using a pollen mask when you are cleaning your house or mowing your garden, changing the air filter in your air conditioner or heater, installing an air purifier unit and keeping your windows closed during known high pollen periods.

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