Dry mouth (also known as xerostomia) is a condition in which your salivary glands do not produce enough saliva to keep your mouth sufficiently wet, and your dentist can treat this. Dry mouth is often caused by aging, radiation therapy for cancer, and certain medications. Sometimes, dry mouth is the result of a condition that directly affects the salivary glands.
Saliva neutralizes acids produced by bacteria, thus helping prevent tooth decay, limiting bacterial growth, and getting rid of food particles. Saliva also aids your sense of taste, makes it easier to chew and swallow, and aids digestion. Dry mouth ranges from a mild nuisance to a significant impact on your teeth and gums' overall health, your sense of taste, and enjoyment of food. Chronic dry mouth can lead to cavities and a whole host of other dental problems. Therefore, it is important to address it.
To determine the cause of your dry mouth, your dentist will examine your mouth after reviewing your dental and medical history. Be sure to make your dentist aware of any medications you are taking as dry mouth is a common side effect of many medications. Any vitamins or supplements and over-the-counter drugs you regularly take should be mentioned as well. If your dentist believes your dry mouth symptoms may be caused by medications you are taking, your doctor may change the dosage of your medicine or put you on a different medication that will not cause dry mouth. In addition, you may need to have blood tests, imaging scans of your salivary glands, or tests that measure your saliva output to identify the cause of your dry mouth. In some instances, a biopsy may be necessary.
Your dentist may prescribe or recommend mouth rinses, artificial saliva, or moisturizers to help ease the symptoms. Some mouthwashes contain xylitol which can be very effective at combatting dry mouth. If your dry mouth symptoms are severe, your dentist may take a different approach to your treatment. You may be prescribed a medication that stimulates your salivary glands, such as pilocarpine (also known as Salagen®) or cevimeline (Evoxac®).
Your dentist will also take measures to protect your teeth from decay caused by bacteria. One option for protecting teeth is fitting you for fluoride trays to prevent cavities. These are trays you take home, fill with fluoride, and wear over your teeth at night while you sleep. Your dentist may recommend the weekly use of a chlorhexidine rinse. This is a prescription mouthwash that decreases harmful cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth. Chlorhexidine offers the added benefit of helping reduce bad breath and inflammation. It also helps with bleeding gums and swelling.
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Dry mouth is a common condition. It can not only be annoying but also threaten your oral health. If you are struggling with dry mouth, be sure to talk to your dentist about what you can do to protect your teeth.
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