Excessive Thirst Reason: In this season of scorching heat and intense sunlight, dry throat and frequent thirst are considered a normal thing. People often ignore it considering it to be the effect of heat. But do you know that even after drinking enough water, if your mouth is becoming dry again and again, then it may not be normal thirst but a serious warning signal being given by your body. In medical language this condition is called xerostomia.
The main reason for dry mouth is lack of saliva. When the saliva glands present in our mouth stop producing saliva in sufficient quantity, we start feeling dryness in the mouth. Saliva is extremely important for our health as it not only helps in digesting food but also plays a big role in fighting germs and maintaining oral hygiene by keeping the mouth moist. Without this, it becomes very difficult to swallow and digest food.
According to health experts, frequent dry mouth can be the result of many serious diseases. The most prominent among these is diabetes. When the blood sugar level increases in the body, the kidneys work extra hard to remove it, which leads to frequent urination and dehydration of the body, resulting in dry mouth.
Apart from this, it can also be associated with conditions like Alzheimer’s, stroke, HIV and nerve damage. Sometimes it also points towards autoimmune disorder.
Apart from diseases, if you are taking regular medicines for problems like high blood pressure, allergies or anxiety, then their side effects can also cause dry mouth. These medicines slow down the activity of the glands that produce saliva.
Just plain water is not enough to keep yourself hydrated in summer.
If the problem persists for several days despite drinking plenty of water and taking precautions or you are having difficulty chewing and swallowing, do not ignore it and consult a doctor immediately.