Puzzles
The Healthy Geezer
ANSWERS ON PAGE 16
Medication can cause dry mouth BY FRED CICETTI
Q
My mouth seems to be a bit dry most of the time. Does this mean anything?
The syn-
A
ACROSS 1 5 9 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 21 24 25 26 30 31 32 33 35 36 37
38 40 42 43 48 49 50 51 52 53
Oil cartel Largest continent Crime scene evidence Lounge around Charged bits A billion years Perry Mason’s client Entertainment Smell bad Geneva’s river Skiers’ 7-Down String instrument Do as you’re told Old cars for new ones “Help!” Repeat verbatim Arctic bird Confiscations Sans siblings Diner staffer Name
BLT meat Swimming venue Alias abbr. Secret or Sure Crib Elderly Press Pismire May honorees Kindly bloke
DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Antiquated “The Raven” writer Sprite Group of priests Helper Drench Hostel On both sides of Leaves-dropper? Proper subject, maybe
EVEN EXCHANGE
by Donna Pettman
11 16 20 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 31 34 35 37 38 39 40 41 44 45 46 47
Heche or Hathaway Born Weeding implement Privation Reed instrument Drying agent Cisterns Ankara resident Fish eggs -- and void Terrier variety Former Menagerie Drilling apparatus Also Ali -Related Verse Probability Id counterpart Exist Negative prefix Explosive stick
Each numbered row contains two clues and two answers. The two answers differ from each other by only one letter, which has already been inserted. For example, if you exchange the A from MASTER for an I, you get MISTER. Do not change the order of the letters.
Everyone experiences dry mouth occasionally. We get it when we are under stress. But if you have dry mouth all or most of the time, you need medical help. The medical term for this condition is xerostomia. Symptoms of this problem are: saliva that seems thick, sores or split skin at the corners of your mouth, difficulty speaking and swallowing, bad breath, a change in your sense of taste, increased plaque, tooth decay and gum disease. Most xerostomia is related to the medications taken by older adults rather than to the effects of aging. More than 400 medicines can affect the salivary glands. These include drugs for urinary incontinence, allergies, high blood pressure, depression, diarrhea and Parkinson’s disease. Also, some over-the-counter medications often cause dry mouth. Dry mouth can also be caused by cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation, nerve damage in the head or neck, the autoimmune disease Sjogren’s syndrome, endocrine disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, anxiety disorders and depression. Sjögren’s syndrome can occur either by itself or with another autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. Salivary and tear glands are the major targets of the syndrome. The result of the syndrome is a decrease in production of saliva and tears.
drome can occur at any age, but the average person with the disorder at the Sjögren’s Syndrome Clinic of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) is in his or her late 50s. Women with the disorder outnumber men 9 to 1. In addition, tobacco, alcohol (in beverages and mouthwash), drinks with caffeine, snoring and breathing with your mouth open can aggravate dry mouth. If you think you have dry mouth, go to your doctor or dentist. Your doctor may adjust your medication that is suspected of causing the problem. Or, your doctor may prescribe a medication to stimulate saliva production. There are other ways to improve saliva flow. Try sugar-free hard candy or chewing gum. Avoid lemon-flavored hard candy, because it makes saliva acidic, increasing the possibility of tooth decay. You can also sip water regularly, try over-the-counter saliva substitutes, avoid breathing through your mouth, and use a humidifier in your bedroom. If you have dry mouth, you have to pay greater attention to your teeth. Brush your teeth with an extra-soft toothbrush after every meal and at bedtime. If brushing hurts, soften the bristles in warm water. Floss your teeth gently every day. Always use toothpaste with fluoride in it. If you have a sweet snack, brush right away.
Get your copy today!
Lovin’ Life After 50
18
|
AUGUST 2020
www.LovinLife.com
