Why Dry Mouth Matters and What To Do About It

“Dry mouth.” It seems harmless enough. Maybe you can see how it’d be a nuisance, but is it a medical problem or dental problem? Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, is much more than an inconvenience or annoyance. It can accelerate the production of cavities and trigger or worsen periodontal disease. To protect yourself from the harmful effects of dry mouth, you need to understand its causes and risk factors and what to do — and not do — about it.

What is dry mouth?

The words are easy enough to understand, but what exactly is dry mouth? Xerostomia is a condition that reduces the amount of saliva that the salivary glands in your mouth usually produce. That reduction in saliva production is what leads to a dry mouth. That saliva plays an essential but often overseen role in your health. It helps you to chew, swallow, and taste. Saliva also fights germs and keeps bad breath at bay.

What causes xerostomia or dry mouth?

There are two primary clusters of causes or dry mouth in Forest Lake: medical conditions and medications.

Xerostomia is a symptom of several common medical conditions, including high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes, anemia, and rheumatoid arthritis.

More commonly, dry mouth is a side effect of drugs and medications — both over-the-counter and prescription drugs. By one count, over 400 common medications identify xerostomia as a potential side effect. Ten types of drugs that can contribute to dry mouth include:

• Antihistamines (allergy medication)

• Antidepressants

• Antipsychotic medications

• Anxiety medications

• Medications for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Disease

• Some blood pressure and heart medications

• Medications for seizures and spasms

• Acne medications containing isotretinoin

• Opioid and narcotic pain medications

• Medications for nausea, motion sickness, nausea, and diarrhea

How dry mouth affects your teeth and gums

Bicarbonate, calcium and phosphate in your saliva neutralize plaque acids produced by bacteria that live in our mouth. By helping to neutralize those acids and physically rinsing food particles from our teeth and gums, saliva helps protect your teeth and gums from tooth decay and gum disease. If you take any of the drugs or medications that contribute to xerostomia or have any of the medications that can cause dry mouth, discuss this with your dentist in Forest Lake. Your dentist may recommend that you attend checkups more often to keep tabs on your oral health and to deal with any emerging tooth decay or gum disease. Your dentist may also recommend some tips for dealing with dry mouth and even some things to avoid.

What to do about dry mouth

Speaking of tips, here are five tips that you can follow to help deal with dry mouth:

1. Stay well hydrated by sipping water regularly

2. Chewing sugarless gum promotes the production of saliva, and is especially helpful after eating

3. Try over the counter products that have been developed specifically for xerostomia, such as lubricating lozenges, saliva replacement spray, and gels

4. When choosing cough drops or gum, choose a product that contains xylitol. Xylitol helps suppress the bacteria that tend to flourish in a dry mouth

5. Increase the humidity in your home and workplace by using a humidifier.

Four things to avoid if you have xerostomia

If you experience dry mouth, avoid or reduce:

1. Using sugary sweets to get relief from your scratchy throat; instead, use cough drops with xylitol

2. Drinking sugary and acidic beverages

3. Drinking caffeinated beverages

4. Using mouthwash and rinses that contain alcohol.

If you suffer from dry mouth in Forest Lake, discuss your symptoms with your doctor or a dentist near you. Your dentist in Forest Lake will take appropriate steps to protect your teeth from your dry mouth while also recommending options for easing your symptoms.