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Throat Issues, Feel's always dry
So I have had this issues for almost 2 years now. My throat basically always feels dry/scratchy. It is by far the most annoying thing and because of this I constantly wake up during the night needing water. The issue with this is when I drink water it doesn't satisfy the dry feeling. I have tried figuring out the exact location and it seems to be right behind my Uvula/back wall of my throat. I went to a throat specialist and he said he could not see anything wrong. Either way I know something is wrong because it hasn't always been like this. Even if I drink a crap ton of water in the day I still have the issue, it just never goes away. any help would be greatly appreciated. I have tried gurgling water to see if that helps but that also turns up nothing
The fact that you have had it for two years rules out some of the possibilities. The first three areas you could and should test are the salivary glands, nose, and stomach. So here is where to start: a) to test to see if you lack sufficient saliva (which is thicker than water and adheres better to the throat) is to suck on sugar-free lemon drops or sour candy for a while just before bedtime. This will stimulate your salivary glands causing them to increase your saliva for the next several hours, which in turn will help keep your throat moist. b) you may be having nocturnal GERD which causes stomach acid to leak in small amounts back up into your throat while laying down causing the symptoms that you complain of. To fix this, take at bedtime an over the counter product like Zantac or Pepcid AC (H2 Blockers) which will lower your stomach acid for roughly 6-8 hours. If nocturnal acid reflux is the cause, you should notice an improvement within a week or so of nightly use. If you don't want to take the products I listed you could just raise the headboard of your bed roughly 3 to 4 inches higher than to foot of the bed. This way it uses gravity to help keep the stomach acid from entering your throat c) Do you have nasal congestion that is causing you to breath through your mouth at night? (If you are sleeping with someone ask them as they probably are aware if you do this while sleeping). If so, look into doing nasal rinsing before bedtime and/or putting a humidifier in your room if the air is dry. Lastly, it may be a combination of these so do not look at it as an either/or scenario.
Quenching That Dry Mouth
Learn about mouth-watering ways to get your saliva flowing and maintain oral health.
By Deborah Quilter
My yoga students often walk into class with a candy in their mouth, and I always make them spit it out when we begin class so they don’t accidentally choke on it when we’re moving. (See www.parentgiving.com/elder-care/avoiding-everyday-choking-hazards/ to avoid choking hazards.) However, they like the candies because it helps with dry mouth. If you’ve ever experienced this, you know just how unpleasant dry mouth can be. Over 400 commonly-prescribed medications can lead to dry mouth, including anti-depressants, sedatives and tranquilizers; antihistamines; alpha and beta blockers; diuretics; and anti-Parkinsonism and anti-seizure drugs. Radiation for the treatment of head and neck cancer cause this dryness as well.(By now you must have arranged you accounts. Hope to hear from you soon.
Xerostomia, the clinical term for dry mouth, can lead to oral health problems including mouth pain, a bad taste in the mouth and difficulty speaking and swallowing, which in turn can compromise nutrition. According to a study by Michael D. Turner, DDS, MD and Jonathan A. Ship, DMD, in the Journal of the American Dental Association, dry mouth affects 30 percent of adults over 65. Interestingly, the same study found that output from the major salivary glands does not undergo clinically significant decreases in healthy older people. The authors note that some data show age-related changes in salivary constituents, but other evidence shows stable production of salivary electrolytes and proteins in the absence of major medical problems and medication use. Doctors should not attribute complaints of a dry mouth in older people to their age—an appropriate diagnosis is required, they maintain.
There are important reasons to keep the salivary glands healthy besides relieving the discomfort of dry mouth. Healthy saliva bathes away food particles, and it contains anti-bacterial enzymes. Saliva is essential for good digestion because it contains enzymes such as alpha-amylase, which helps break down carbohydrates. It also helps make food easy to swallow.
There are lots of steps you can take to assist your salivary system flow. Here are a few suggestions; some of them are favorites among my older students.
Drink Up
Dehydration can lead to salivary gland problems, so drink plenty of fluids. Alcohol makes matters worse as do caffeinated drinks.
Ask About Acupuncture
“Early studies have suggested that acupuncture might stimulate saliva production in people with xerostomia induced by radiotherapy,” according to an article by Mary Desmond Pinkowish, News & Views Editor of CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
Investigate Yoga
Yoga has a wonderful way to stimulate saliva: Khechari mudra. You make this mudra—a gesture or attitude that directs subtle energies—by drawing the tip of your tongue up and back toward the back of the nostrils in the upper throat. Close your eyes and mouth and hold the mudra for as long as is comfortable. Yogis use this mudra to preserve vitality. One of my students woke up in the middle of the night with a dry mouth, performed the mudra and went happily back to sleep, refreshed and moist.
Try Tai Chi
Lewis Paleias, who teaches Tai Chi to seniors at the Martha Stewart Center for Living at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City, suggests thinking of a sour plum, grapefruit or lemon. The mere thought of a sour taste will stimulate the salivary glands. Swish the saliva around the mouth and through the teeth. Then swallow.
Experiment With Oil Wash
This technique has helped several of my students: Swirl some oil such as olive, sesame or grapeseed, around your mouth and through your teeth. When you have done this for several minutes, spit the oil out. This practice keeps the mouth lubricated and is said to have cleansing benefits for the body.
Massage Your “Sideburns”
Mukunda Stiles, founder of Structural Yoga Therapy and author of many books on Yoga, including Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy, recommends stroking the masseter muscle from top to bottom. The masseter, which allows the act of chewing by drawing up the lower jaw, is located where the sideburns grow. “Doing this regularly works well,” he notes.
Eat Juicy Foods
Stiles also suggests eating foods full of “ojas,” a Sanskrit word that roughly translates as “juiciness” or “nectar”—think honey, ghee, almond milk, dates and figs—to help stimulate saliva. “If food doesn’t make you salivate, don’t eat it!” says Stiles.
Chew Vitamin-Rich Foods
Chewing stimulates saliva, so eat high fiber foods that need lots of mastication. A lack of riboflavin and vitamins A and B-12 can also lead to dry mouth. These vitamins are found in beef liver, eggs and dairy products.
Try Herbal Remedies
Slippery elm tea is reputed to help dry mouth. Gargling with a tincture of myrrh can be very healing for gum problems. Check with your physician first to be sure there won’t be any drug interactions.
Brush Your Teeth
Dry mouth can lead to cavities because it can harm tooth enamel, warned Joseph S. Levy, DMD, a Manhattan dentist, so it’s important to take good care of your teeth. If you have problems with dexterity, try the toothbrush recommended by Rumeena Reshad, Dr. Levy’s dental hygienist, G-U-M Summit Sensitive/Ultrasuave, which has an easy-to-hold handle. Or you can wrap a regular toothbrush with a foam hair curler to widen the base. The G-U-M toothbrush is very soft, so it’s easy on your gums. Dr. Levy also recommends electric spin brushes for patients who have difficulty managing toothbrushes.
After brushing, rinse with a product like ACT restoring mouthwash to keep tooth enamel strong. Some dentists recommend special products designed for soothing dry mouth such as Biotene toothpaste, gel and mouthwash. Biotene contains anti-bacterial enzymes.
Learn about mouth-watering ways to get your saliva flowing and maintain oral health.
By Deborah Quilter
My yoga students often walk into class with a candy in their mouth, and I always make them spit it out when we begin class so they don’t accidentally choke on it when we’re moving. (See www.parentgiving.com/elder-care/avoiding-everyday-choking-hazards/ to avoid choking hazards.) However, they like the candies because it helps with dry mouth. If you’ve ever experienced this, you know just how unpleasant dry mouth can be. Over 400 commonly-prescribed medications can lead to dry mouth, including anti-depressants, sedatives and tranquilizers; antihistamines; alpha and beta blockers; diuretics; and anti-Parkinsonism and anti-seizure drugs. Radiation for the treatment of head and neck cancer cause this dryness as well.(By now you must have arranged you accounts. Hope to hear from you soon.
Xerostomia, the clinical term for dry mouth, can lead to oral health problems including mouth pain, a bad taste in the mouth and difficulty speaking and swallowing, which in turn can compromise nutrition. According to a study by Michael D. Turner, DDS, MD and Jonathan A. Ship, DMD, in the Journal of the American Dental Association, dry mouth affects 30 percent of adults over 65. Interestingly, the same study found that output from the major salivary glands does not undergo clinically significant decreases in healthy older people. The authors note that some data show age-related changes in salivary constituents, but other evidence shows stable production of salivary electrolytes and proteins in the absence of major medical problems and medication use. Doctors should not attribute complaints of a dry mouth in older people to their age—an appropriate diagnosis is required, they maintain.
There are important reasons to keep the salivary glands healthy besides relieving the discomfort of dry mouth. Healthy saliva bathes away food particles, and it contains anti-bacterial enzymes. Saliva is essential for good digestion because it contains enzymes such as alpha-amylase, which helps break down carbohydrates. It also helps make food easy to swallow.
There are lots of steps you can take to assist your salivary system flow. Here are a few suggestions; some of them are favorites among my older students.
Drink Up
Dehydration can lead to salivary gland problems, so drink plenty of fluids. Alcohol makes matters worse as do caffeinated drinks.
Ask About Acupuncture
“Early studies have suggested that acupuncture might stimulate saliva production in people with xerostomia induced by radiotherapy,” according to an article by Mary Desmond Pinkowish, News & Views Editor of CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
Investigate Yoga
Yoga has a wonderful way to stimulate saliva: Khechari mudra. You make this mudra—a gesture or attitude that directs subtle energies—by drawing the tip of your tongue up and back toward the back of the nostrils in the upper throat. Close your eyes and mouth and hold the mudra for as long as is comfortable. Yogis use this mudra to preserve vitality. One of my students woke up in the middle of the night with a dry mouth, performed the mudra and went happily back to sleep, refreshed and moist.
Try Tai Chi
Lewis Paleias, who teaches Tai Chi to seniors at the Martha Stewart Center for Living at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City, suggests thinking of a sour plum, grapefruit or lemon. The mere thought of a sour taste will stimulate the salivary glands. Swish the saliva around the mouth and through the teeth. Then swallow.
Experiment With Oil Wash
This technique has helped several of my students: Swirl some oil such as olive, sesame or grapeseed, around your mouth and through your teeth. When you have done this for several minutes, spit the oil out. This practice keeps the mouth lubricated and is said to have cleansing benefits for the body.
Massage Your “Sideburns”
Mukunda Stiles, founder of Structural Yoga Therapy and author of many books on Yoga, including Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy, recommends stroking the masseter muscle from top to bottom. The masseter, which allows the act of chewing by drawing up the lower jaw, is located where the sideburns grow. “Doing this regularly works well,” he notes.
Eat Juicy Foods
Stiles also suggests eating foods full of “ojas,” a Sanskrit word that roughly translates as “juiciness” or “nectar”—think honey, ghee, almond milk, dates and figs—to help stimulate saliva. “If food doesn’t make you salivate, don’t eat it!” says Stiles.
Chew Vitamin-Rich Foods
Chewing stimulates saliva, so eat high fiber foods that need lots of mastication. A lack of riboflavin and vitamins A and B-12 can also lead to dry mouth. These vitamins are found in beef liver, eggs and dairy products.
Try Herbal Remedies
Slippery elm tea is reputed to help dry mouth. Gargling with a tincture of myrrh can be very healing for gum problems. Check with your physician first to be sure there won’t be any drug interactions.
Brush Your Teeth
Dry mouth can lead to cavities because it can harm tooth enamel, warned Joseph S. Levy, DMD, a Manhattan dentist, so it’s important to take good care of your teeth. If you have problems with dexterity, try the toothbrush recommended by Rumeena Reshad, Dr. Levy’s dental hygienist, G-U-M Summit Sensitive/Ultrasuave, which has an easy-to-hold handle. Or you can wrap a regular toothbrush with a foam hair curler to widen the base. The G-U-M toothbrush is very soft, so it’s easy on your gums. Dr. Levy also recommends electric spin brushes for patients who have difficulty managing toothbrushes.
After brushing, rinse with a product like ACT restoring mouthwash to keep tooth enamel strong. Some dentists recommend special products designed for soothing dry mouth such as Biotene toothpaste, gel and mouthwash. Biotene contains anti-bacterial enzymes.
I just visited your profile page and learned about your subjects of interest. I am taking treatment for allergy, GERD,psoriasis and insomnia. I am 85. I am having paresthesia since last 10 years. I feel my feet tight. I do not have sugar problem. I do not have b12 deficiency not iron deficiency. It is not pain. I feel that I am walking on rocks.I am old case of hypothyroism. since last 40 years. It is genetic. almost all my siblings have this problem.I am given moistarizer to hydrate my skin. anti histaming and Calcium citrate and meletonin. I am also taking Ambien 5 mg. an alprozolam for Insomnia. I take alprozolam since last 20 years and added Ambien 5 mg since last 3 years. With this I get 3 or 4 hours sleep and then I have to get up every our for urination. My bladder and prostate is okay. Still urination problem is there(nocternal) This is not a proper case history. In short, hypothyroidism,Psoriasis(red Rash in left foot and more itiching on face),Insomnia, practice yoga regularly since few years,.Thanks.(spell check not done)
Keeping coconut oil for 20 minutes is called oil pull. You may google the word to get details and explanation.
Very comprehensive answer.This treatment plan will have the visible effect on the first day itself. I have researched for few months for dry mouth and GERD. All steps are mentioned.I may add one or two remedies. Virgin coconut oil. Keep one teasspoonful in your mouth for 20 minutes every day.Another one is Maletonin which tightens the valve between esophagus and the stomach and take calcium cittate 150mg, in powder form just after meals( this will empty the stomach faster). The author says It is not acid only but the lot of chemicals contained in our food create the problem. With calcium citrate which is a mid acid, will empty the stomach quicker. I am adhering to this treatment since last two weeks.I am a chronic patient of parasthesia. and itchy skin. Because of antihistamene, I got a GERD and dry mouth problem. Gargling with saline water will also give you instant relief. Spell check not done.
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