dry mouth

Question 1

what is the symptoms of a dry mouth called?

Answer 1

xerostomia

Question 2

what are the signs of a dry mouth called?

Answer 2

dry mouth

Question 3

what are causes of dry mouth?

Answer 3

medicines
time of day-night
dehydration
anxiety
mouth breathing
diabetes
radiotherapy
sjrogrens syndrome
diurnal
salivary aplasia >1

Question 4

what are the symptoms of dry mouth?

Answer 4

-difficulty eating
-difficulty swallowing
-dry mouth
-poor denture retention
-bad taste
-halatosis
-mucosa stick together
-sore mouth
-increase in caries
-salivary swelling

Question 5

what is used to check signs of dry mouth?

Answer 5

challacombe scale

Question 6

what do you check when using challacombe scale?

Answer 6

-mirror sticks to mucosa
-lobuled/fissured tongue
-shortened tongue papillae (smooth tongue)
-frothhy saliva
-no saliva at fom
-shiny gingivae
-cervical (Smooth surface) caries
-debris sticking to tongue

-candidias
-traumatic ulceration
-poor denture retention
-saladenitis

Question 7

what score is each reason given?

Answer 7

1

Question 8

what is the range of mild dry mouth?

Answer 8

0-3

Question 9

what is the outcome for mild dry mouth?

Answer 9

routine monitoring

Question 10

what is the range for moderate dry mouth ?

Answer 10

4-6

Question 11

what is the outcome for moderate dry mouth?

Answer 11

further investigation if cause unknown

Question 12

what is the range for severe dry mouth?

Answer 12

7-10

Question 13

what is the outcome for severe dry mouth?

Answer 13

investigate-refer to check for sjrogrens

Question 14

what is the investigation for dry mouth?

Answer 14

lean forward and dribble for 15 mins

Question 15

what is considered normal level?

Answer 15

0.3-0.4ml/min

Question 16

what is considered very low?

Answer 16

<0.1ml/min

Question 17

what is the treatment for mild dry mouth?

Answer 17

sugar free gum and hhydration

Question 18

what is the treatment for moderate dry mouth?

Answer 18

sugar free gum and saliva stimulating tablets- consider substitutes

Question 19

what should also be considered for moderate dry mouth?

Answer 19

fluoride due to increased caries risk

Question 20

what is the treatment for severe dry mouth?

Answer 20

saliva substitutes and fluoride

Question 21

what are examples of saliva stimulants?

Answer 21

sugar free gum
artificial saliva pastilles (saliva)
saliva stimulation tablets
xyilimelts

Question 22

what saliva stimulants require a prescription and why?

Answer 22

pastilles and stimulating tablets as they are acidic and it is required that some saliva be there to neutralise this

Question 23

what are substitutes?

Answer 23

sprays (carbox) and mucin spray

gels - last longer
biotin
oralieve (contains fluoride and anti bac)

Question 24

what is a systemic medication used for dry mouth that is not on the NHS?

Answer 24

pilocarpine