Well now, let me tell ya, this whole COVID-19 business ain’t just about coughin’ and fever, it brings all sorts of other troubles with it too. One thing that’s been poppin’ up a lot is dry mouth, or what them doctors call “xerostomia.” It’s like your mouth’s been left out in the sun too long and it just dries up. You can’t hardly spit, your lips crack, and sometimes it even feels like you’re suckin’ on dust. Ain’t no fun, that’s for sure.
Now, what causes this dry mouth? Well, it seems that when the COVID-19 virus hits, it don’t just mess with your lungs, it can also get into the glands in your mouth that help make saliva. Them glands don’t work right, and you end up with less spit in your mouth. This can happen even before you start feelin’ other symptoms, like the fever or the cough. Some folks start feelin’ like their mouth is as dry as an old boot, and it makes it hard to even talk or swallow, let alone eat. It’s like your tongue’s stickin’ to the roof of your mouth, and that’s a mess, let me tell ya.
Folks who catch COVID-19 might not even realize right away that their mouth’s dried up. It can happen in the first few days, before any other signs show up. You might not feel like eatin’ much ‘cause it’s too hard to swallow, and that just makes it worse. Your taste might go all funny too. You can’t taste nothin’, and that don’t help when you’re tryin’ to eat something to get your strength back. It’s a real struggle, I tell ya.
Now, it ain’t just dry mouth that’s the problem, oh no. It can also lead to other issues, like tooth decay. When your mouth’s dry, your teeth don’t get the proper protection from all that saliva, and that makes it easier for the bad stuff to build up on ‘em. You might even lose teeth, if it gets bad enough. And while you’re dealin’ with all that, your lips might get all cracked and sore, too. Ain’t nobody want to walk around lookin’ like that, right?
Studies have shown that a lot of people with COVID-19, especially those with the long-haul symptoms, are complainin’ about dry mouth. It’s one of them things that can stick around for a while after you think you’ve gotten over the worst of it. There’s folks that say they’re thirsty all the time, no matter how much they drink. That’s a real sign that something ain’t quite right with your mouth and the way it’s workin’.
It’s also been found that dry mouth’s pretty common with COVID-19, and it can happen in up to 43% of folks who catch the virus. That’s a lot of people! And it ain’t just about not havin’ enough spit in your mouth. There are other things that can happen too, like your taste bein’ all off, or you feelin’ like you gotta swallow all the time just to keep your mouth from feelin’ too dry. That’s somethin’ no one wants to deal with, especially if you’re already tired and sick from the rest of the virus.
Now, if you’re dealin’ with dry mouth from COVID-19, there are some things you can do to try to ease it. First off, drink lots of water, but not all at once, just little sips here and there. That helps keep your mouth from gettin’ too parched. You can also try sucking on sugar-free candies or using mouth rinses to keep your mouth moist. And if it gets really bad, you might wanna talk to a doctor about it, because there could be other treatments to help you out. Ain’t no shame in askin’ for help when you need it.
But, like I said before, dry mouth’s just one of the many ways COVID-19 can mess with ya. And you gotta keep in mind that even after you think you’re feelin’ better, the dry mouth might stick around for a while. It’s a reminder that this virus doesn’t just affect your lungs – it can mess with your whole body, even your mouth. So, take care of yourself and be mindful of how your mouth’s feelin’ while you’re recoverin’ from this nasty illness.
And don’t forget to keep an eye on your teeth, too. Dry mouth can lead to all sorts of tooth problems, so make sure you’re brushin’ ‘em and keepin’ ‘em clean. You don’t wanna end up with a bunch of toothaches on top of everything else, trust me on that one.
Tags：[COVID-19, Dry Mouth, Xerostomia, COVID symptoms, Oral health, Salivary glands, Tooth decay, Long COVID, Thirst, Dry lips]
