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Dry Mouth – Causes, Effects, and Treatments

Dry Mouth and the Importance of Saliva

Saliva is essential to protecting teeth from tooth decay. It acts as a natural cleansing agent to prevent bacteria from adhering to tooth surface and initiating the decay process. Cavities cannot form if they cannot bind to teeth.

https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/OralHealth/Topics/DryMouth/DryMouth.htm

Approximately 20-30% of people in the United States suffer from constant dry mouth, a condition known as xerostomia. It is normal to feel dry mouth occasionally, for instance, when we are feeling stressed before a big meeting, but when it persists over a long period of time it can lead to serious health problems.

 

Causes of Dry Mouth

  • Excessive caffeine
  • Medications, including but not limited to, cancer treatment, antipsychotics, antidepressants, antianxiety, and ADD/ADHD medication
  • Aging
  • Head and neck nerve damage
  • Other health conditions, such as stroke, HIV/AIDS, or other autoimmune diseases
  • Tobacco
  • Methamphetamine use

 

Oral Complications Resulting from Dry Mouth

  • Increased decay and gum disease
  • Sores and infection
  • Cracked lips
  • Change in taste
  • Poor nutrition from difficulty chewing and swallowing

 

Dry Mouth Treatment

It is important to discuss your dry mouth with the dentist. Together you can figure out the cause, which will facilitate finding the appropriate treatment. You may need to change medications that are causing dry mouth. Additionally, there are several oral products that can be used to moisten the mouth, such as rinses and gels. For more severe dry mouth, there are prescriptions to stimulate saliva production and release. Use of fluoride is essential with dry mouth to strengthen and protect enamel from cavities.

 

References

http://www.ada.org/en/member-center/oral-health-topics/xerostomia

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-mouth/home/ovc-20318136

https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/OralHealth/Topics/DryMouth/DryMouth.htm