Are you suffering from a dry mouth? In medical terms, dry mouth is also known as ‘Xerostomia’. It is the situation of not having adequate saliva in order to keep your mouth wet. Saliva plays a crucial role in sustaining your dental health.
A dry mouth appears to be a little frustrating but could do major damage to your teeth. It may be even painful.
Causes
-
- Serious panic attacks, stress or depression
- Nerve damaged because of head or neck injury
- Sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disorder
- Smoking and drinking
- Various kinds of radiation
- Chemotherapy
- Sleep apnea
- Aging
- Dehydration
- Specific drugs
- Diseases such as Diabetes, HIV, Parkinson’s, or Periodontitis
Why should you never ignore its symptoms?
- Saliva keeps your mouth clean. Along with that, it also battles against bacteria. It reduces the acids that may cause tooth decay. So, when you have a dry mouth at night, you are given access to bacteria to develop. With the deficiency of saliva, your teeth will slowly and gradually become exposed to cavities.
- A dry mouth may as well give you everlasting bad breath.
- An inadequate amount of saliva causes the skin in and around your mouth to dry as well as tight. Your lips can crack. Sores can grow at the corners of your mouth. It may become problematic while you swallow and talk.
- Dry mouth hampers your taste buds. You can experience salty, metallic, or other kinds of tastes in your mouth while eating. The tongue may turn rough and dry.
- Saliva even helps ease your digestion. Saliva also helps to break down food particles into simpler forms. When you swallow the food, you may face difficulties, as they are not broken down properly.
- Red spots can appear inside your mouth. Ulcers can also happen due to dry mouth.
- When the food reaches your stomach, it contains various kinds of bacteria. This may lead to food poisoning.
- You may find the parotid glands of your ear to appear swollen.
- Note: A dry mouth can also be a warning symbol of serious oral cancer.
- Dentures are generally painful. A dry mouth and dentures can never go together. If your mouth is dry, the dentures may also result in sores.
When Should I See My Dentist?
If your dry mouth at night is extreme or it occurs when you start taking new medicines, you should definitely visit a dentist. Your dentist may recommend altering the dosage or switching to other kinds of drugs. You can even get medications to strengthen the functions of your salivary glands.
NEW ADULT PATIENT FORM | NEW CHILD PATIENT FORM
Seek immediate dental help if you have a dry mouth. Get dental help if you have problems breathing and swallowing or have a high fever.
Prevention
- Brush and floss daily
- Go for routine dental checkups
- Try to stay hydrated all day long
- Always use an antibacterial mouth-rinse
- Bring home a humidifier in order to add moisture to the air
- Try to chew sugar-free gums to boost saliva production
Get the Help you need!
You can get in touch with Carstairs Dental if you want to receive the best dental hygiene services in Carstairs, AB. Our dentist in Carstairs goes above and beyond to provide top-notch treatments along with optimal comfort. Book an appointment with us today.
