Is Dry Mouth Something to Just Live With?
Posted on 8/24/2020 by SmileCOS Dentistry |
 You can choose to wait out temporary dry mouth caused by dehydration, medications, tobacco use, excessive consumption of alcohol, or heavy breathing through the mouth due to nasal constrictions. However, it's ill-advised to put with persistent dry mouth. Persistent dry mouth usually results from a more serious underlining issue, and if allowed to fester, can severely damage your teeth, gums, and other parts of your body.
Dry mouth, or xerostomia, refers to a condition in which the mouth is severely deprived of saliva. Initial symptoms of dry mouth include dry feeling in the tongue, mouth, throat and nasal passage, dry lips, sore or cracked corners of the mouth, persistent thirst, and difficulties with eating and speaking. Without an adequate supply of saliva, more severe problems begin to emerge.
The Dangers of Dry Mouth
Saliva plays a key role in the maintenance of good oral health. It minimizes acid levels in the mouth, washes off bacteria and food debris, and supplies the teeth with essential minerals and nutrients. With a palpable absence of saliva, the mouth is exposed to myriads of dental problems, from gum disease to tooth decay, and oral sores. The enamels and outer layers of the gum become weakened because they're deprived of vital nutrients, and bacteria that cause a wide range of problems fester and grow with less resistance. Dry mouth can also quickly lead to tooth discoloration because food particles stay for too long on the tooth surfaces when there's no saliva to wash them off quickly.
What to Do About Dry Mouth
If dry mouth persists for too long, the best thing to do is, first of all, identify the cause of the dry mouth before deciding what treatment will work best. At our offices, we use first-rate tools and our vast expertise to address any underlining issues behind your dry mouth, and then recommend anything from simple home-made remedies like drinking plenty water, using humidifiers to reduce air dryness, to over-the-counter solutions like artificial saliva, or even more complex dental restorations depending on the severity of the situation. Reach out to us today to put an end to your chronic dry mouth.
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