What Everyone Should Know About Dry Mouth

Have you ever noticed “dry mouth” listed as a possible side effect of medications and thought, “Who cares if your mouth gets dry? Drink some water!” Medically speaking, it’s somewhat more complicated than that.

Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, is more than a minor inconvenience. Not only does it feel terrible and give you bad breath and an itchy cough—but it also wreaks havoc on your oral health. Suffering from even brief periods of xerostomia can lead to the rapid onset of new cavities and exacerbate or initiate the symptoms of gum disease.

If you still think you don’t have to worry, consider this: more than 400 commonly used medications list xerostomia as a possible side effect. This includes both over-the-counter drugs and prescription medication. Any new medication can lead to a case of dry mouth, at any time. Knowing how to deal with dry mouth can save you a good deal of discomfort (and the expense of future dental bills) if you know how to treat it ahead of time.

Medical Conditions That Cause Dry Mouth

While medications are the most common cause of xerostomia, there are also a number of medical conditions that may leave you with a dry mouth. For example, diabetes, anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, and hypertension can all cause xerostomia. If you suffer from a condition that may affect your saliva production, be prepared for this symptom and be proactive about treating it promptly.

How Dry Mouth Affects Your Oral Health

Xerostomia occurs when your salivary glands stop producing adequate saliva to keep the mouth moist. This is incredibly dangerous for your teeth because saliva is your body’s best defense against mouth bacteria. Ordinarily, your saliva is hard at work, all day long, neutralizing bacterial acids and rinsing food particles off of the teeth. The only time saliva production goes down naturally is when we sleep at night. After a long night of reduced saliva production, the bacteria in our mouths grow unchecked, which is why we wake up with a bad taste in the mouth and a case of “morning breath.”

When you have a reduced amount of saliva in the mouth for long periods of time, your teeth become less protected against tooth decay, and your gums are more vulnerable to bacteria, as well. Letting your mouth dry out can lead to the onset of gum disease if not treated.

If you suffer from dry mouth, it may be necessary to visit the dentist more frequently, so we can monitor your oral health. Since decay advances much more quickly in a dry acidic environment, you may develop deep cavities before we get the chance to even spot them.

What You Can Do About Dry Mouth

If you find your mouth feels unusually dry, there are a number of things you can try. The important thing is not to ignore the condition, and speak to your doctor if it persists.

Home care for dry mouth:

• Take small sips of water regularly and stay well hydrated.
• Chew sugarless gum to encourage saliva production, especially after meals.
• Use lubricating lozenges, gels, saliva replacement spray, or other OTC products designed specifically for dry mouth.
• Choose cough drops or gum that contains xylitol, when possible.
• Use a humidifier to keep the air moist in your indoor environment.

 

What You Should NOT do:

• Use sugary candy or cough drops to ease the itch in your throat.
• Consume sugary or acidic drinks
• Consume caffeine.
• Use rinses with alcohol in them.

If you consume sweets, look for candies and gums that contain xylitol. This is a natural sweetener that is actually beneficial for your oral health. Xylitol can help keep your pH level neutral in the mouth and can prevent bacteria from sticking to the teeth. Just be careful, as too much xylitol can cause gas, bloating, and diarrhea.

Over-the-counter decongestants and antihistamines are often the cause of sporadic dry mouth. If you notice a correlation between their use, ask your doctor about other ways to manage your symptoms without using the medications that dry out your mouth.

Contact Us If You Experience Dry Mouth

If a medical condition or medication causes your mouth to feel dry and sticky, call Family Dentistry & Aesthetics and let us know; we will probably recommend an extra check-up to assess whether additional preventive treatments may be needed to protect your teeth. At your appointment, Dr. Teel or Dr. Gilbert will examine your mouth for signs of bacterial damage. If we find any cavities, we will treat them with tooth-colored fillings to prevent the damage from worsening or spreading.

To learn more about the connections between oral and overall health, call Family Dentistry & Aesthetics at (260) 432-0561for an appointment with one of our doctors.