Xerostomia (also known as dry mouth or cotton mouth) is one of the rare side effects of the drug Restoril (temazepam) a sedative used primarily as a sleeping aid. Although Xerostomia is rare with this drug and is not one of the more serious potential side effects of Restoril use, its appearance indicates the need to consult a physician.
Xerostomia (dry mouth, cotton mouth) is a side effect of many drugs besides Restoril (temazepam). When a person is suffering from Xerostomia, his mouth produces little or no saliva. This causes difficulty swallowing, eating and talking. Xerostomia may also interfere with denture wear.
Long term sufferers of Xerostomia (dry mouth, cotton mouth) are at risk of more serious health conditions. One of the natural functions of saliva is washing away harmful bacteria. When saliva production is eliminated or dramatically reduced, as is possible with Restoril (temazepam), the mouth is susceptible to gum disease, tooth decay and other infections caused by bacteria. Because of these risks, it is important to identify and treat Xerostomia (dry mouth, cotton mouth) when using a drug such as Restoril (temazepam).
How to Recognize “Dry Mouth”
The most obvious symptom of Xerostomia (dry mouth, cotton mouth) that a Restoril user should be alert to is feeling thirsty. Other symptoms of Xerostomia include sore or bleeding gums, a constant dry feeling, cracked lips, bad breath and excessive plaque buildup.
What to Do About “Dry Mouth”
If a Restoril (temazepam) user is diagnosed with dry mouth, sipping water frequently throughout the day is a common treatment that alleviates the discomfort caused by the dryness and replenishes the moistures lost due to decreased saliva production.
Other simple steps that provide some relief from Xerostomia symptoms include breathing through the nose rather than the mouth and using a humidifier at nighttime.
Avoiding foods and drinks with dehydrating or irritating tendencies also is often recommended to persons experiencing dry mouth; caffeinated drinks, sugary drinks, alcohol, tobacco products, spicy and salty foods can all exacerbate the Xerostomia.
If these simple treatments are insufficient to relieve a Restoril user’s Xerostomia symptoms, it is possible to stimulate saliva production or use a product known as “artificial saliva.” Either chewing gum or sugarless hard candy will stimulate saliva production; one particularly helpful product for saliva stimulation is a special gum known as Biotene, which contains the same enzymes as natural saliva.
If efforts to stimulate saliva production fail, over-the-counter artificial saliva may be used. Artificial saliva comes in a choice of forms, including sprays, swabs and solutions and is usually flavored. Artificial saliva not only moistens the mouth to provide relief from the Xerostomia (dry mouth, cotton mouth) symptoms, it can help protect teeth as it is normally enriched with fluoride or calcium.
Xerostomia (dry mouth, cotton mouth) sufferers who do not use artificial saliva can instead buy special toothpaste that is designed to reduce the amount of bacteria in the mouth, thereby minimizing gum irritation.
