It’s likely that you’ve probably experienced dry mouth at least a time or two in your life. But millions of people are impacted by xerostomia or chronic dry mouth that they experience every day. Long-term dry mouth can have detrimental impacts on your oral health, so it’s important to get it taken care of. Dr. Mark Sowell, a dentist in Plano, TX, describes the causes of dry mouth and why it’s something you need to get treated.
What Causes Dry Mouth?
There are many things that can cause you to have chronic dry mouth. One of the most common causes of dry mouth is its being a side effect of various prescription medications. As we age, we’re more likely to suffer from dry mouth as well. Dry mouth can also be due to lifestyle occurrences like stress or smoking, as well as medical problems like cancer treatment or autoimmune disorders.
How Does Dry Mouth Impact My Oral Health?
You may think that dry mouth is just an annoyance, but it can actually have a big impact on your oral health. Your saliva plays a big part in the health of your mouth, and without enough saliva being produced, your mouth suffers the consequences. For instance, saliva helps to wash away food particles and plaque from your teeth.
In addition, saliva helps to neutralize acids and bad bacteria that may cause damage to your smile. It’s essential to delivering important minerals to your teeth and keeps your breath fresh throughout the day. Lastly, saliva is what helps to protect your tooth enamel, keeping it strong.
It’s shown that when you have chronic dry mouth, you’re more likely to have trouble with further oral health issues. When you don’t have enough saliva, your mouth attracts more bacteria, leading to a problematic buildup. This can cause conditions like tooth decay or gum disease, which can lead to tooth loss and other extreme problems if it isn’t treated promptly.
How Is Dry Mouth Treated?
There are many different ways to take care of dry mouth. First, it’s important to discover the cause of your dry mouth. A simple lifestyle change can help treat it with some patients, but other things may need to be done if it comes from a health issue or medication. For starters, Dr. Sowell will probably recommend that you chew sugar-free gum and drinking more water to help increase saliva production.
There are other things that Dr. Sowell can provide. We make sure that every case is handled to treat the cause of dry mouth that’s unique to the patient. Special gels and oral rinses can help to increase saliva production if lifestyle changes aren’t doing the trick.
Treating Dry Mouth At Your Plano, Texas Dentist
Are you struggling with dry mouth and the detrimental effects that come with it? We can help. Call us or request an appointment online to get started.