What Is Artificial Saliva For Dry Mouth?
Artificial saliva is a substance which contains no animal or human proteins and is made from natural substances such as plant extracts, minerals, sugar alcohols and other chemicals. Its main purpose is to replace the missing ingredients in the mouth when there are problems with the normal production of saliva. Artificial saliva is used to treat various diseases like:
Dry mouth
Coughing
Stomach pain/discomfort
Painful breath (throat irritation)
How Does Artificial Saliva Work?
The main function of artificial saliva is to provide the necessary amount of saliva at the right time. The artificial saliva is usually mixed with water and then heated up until it becomes foam. The foam is then squeezed out through a straw into the mouth. It is very effective in replacing the missing ingredients in the mouth. Artificial saliva does not contain any harmful substances, so it may be safely used by children and adults alike.
It has been proven that artificial saliva helps to prevent cavities, tooth decay, gum disease and dental caries among others. In addition it helps with dry mouth, throat irritation and other symptoms caused by various medical conditions.
Why Do People Use Artificial Saliva?
This is a substance which has been in use for several decades and for good reason. It helps to prevent tooth decay and other mouth related diseases such as dry mouth. For this reason, people who suffer from dry mouth are often encouraged to use artificial saliva.
How Long Does It Take To See Results?
You will notice a difference in the quality of saliva after just one use of artificial saliva. The benefits are instant and you will experience a big change in your general mouth health.
How Much Does It Cost?
The cost of artificial saliva varies depending on the brand. You can get a small bottle for about $10.00 to $15.00 and a large bottle for about $20.00 to $30.00.
What Are Some Side Effects?
The use of artificial saliva is not known to cause any side effects. It is made from only the highest quality ingredients, so you can be sure that it is completely safe for use. There have been no complaints or reports of side effects caused by this substance.
What Medications Interact With It?
There are currently no known medications which interact with this substance. It has been proven to be safe for use and it is not known to cause any negative interactions when used with other drugs or supplements.
What If You Take Too Much?
There is no such thing as ‘too much’ artificial saliva. This means that even if you use too much of it, you will not experience any negative side effects. However, you may find that you will experience a bit of foaming at the mouth even though this will not cause any harm.
What If You Forget To Take It?
It is not known as to whether or not you can ‘miss’ a dose of this substance. With this in mind, it would be best to take it at the same time every day to ensure that you do not miss a dose.
How Long Before You See Results?
You can see results as soon as you begin using this product. Many people experience instant relief from a dry mouth within minutes of the start of treatment.
Keep in mind that this is not a cure for whatever condition may be causing your dry mouth. It is simply to alleviate the symptoms and provide relief from dryness and discomfort.
What Happens When You Stop Taking It?
When you stop taking the product, some people experience problems again such as a dry mouth. This is why it is important to talk to your doctor about other methods which can be used to treat your condition and prevent a dry mouth from occurring in the first place.
What If You Take It For A Long Time?
There are no known long term side effects caused by using this substance. It is completely safe for long term use and you should be able to take it every day for the rest of your life if necessary.
What If You Combine It With Other Medications?
There are no known negative side effects caused by combining this substance with other medications. However, you should always talk to your doctor about all the medications that you are currently taking to make sure that there will be no interactions.
What If You Overdose?
Taking more than the recommended dose of this substance should not result in any serious negative effects. You may experience some mild stomach discomfort and you may vomit or have diarrhea. In the case of an overdose, you should seek immediate medical attention.
Is It Addictive?
This product is not known to be physically addictive. It does not give the user a ‘high’ when used. There is no desire to use more than the recommended dosage.
Benefits Of Artificial Saliva: Salivary substitutes are mainly used to treat Sjogren’s syndrome, in which the patient’s body starts attacking its own glands. These hormones are replaced with supplements, so that the immune system does not reject them.
Salivary substitutes can also be used by cancer patients who have to undergo radiation therapy, as saliva production is severely reduced or stopped completely due to the treatment. It is also used by people with Kallman’s syndrome or eustachian tube dysfunction who have no sense of taste.
Possible Side Effects: The most common side effect is a temporary increase in saliva production, which may cause some drooling. This subsides after about a week.
Other possible side effects include lip swelling and temporary changes in taste sensations.
Cost: Salivary substitutes vary in cost depending on whether or not your health insurance will cover the cost. The average cost of 28 day supply is between $200-$400.
Sources & references used in this article:
Effects of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC)-based artificial saliva in patients with xerostomia by DJ Oh, JY Lee, YK Kim, HS Kho – … journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery, 2008 – Elsevier
Clinical evaluation of a new artificial saliva in spray form for patients with dry mouth by FJ Silvestre, MP Minguez, JM Suñe-Negre – Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal, 2009 – Citeseer
A comparison of artificial saliva and pilocarpine in the management of xerostomia in patients with advanced cancer by AN Davies, C Daniels, R Pugh… – Palliative …, 1998 – journals.sagepub.com
A comparison of salivary substitutes versus a natural sialogogue (citric acid) in patients complaining of dry mouth as an adverse drug reaction: a clinical, randomized … by F Femiano, R Rullo, F di Spirito, A Lanza… – Oral Surgery, Oral …, 2011 – Elsevier
