Having a dry mouth from time to time isn’t unusual. Factors like sickness, physical exertion, and even stress can all contribute to making your mouth feel temporarily parched.
But chronic dry mouth — which is a condition called xerostomia — is different. People who have this condition produce less saliva than normal, leading to uncomfortable symptoms and an increased risk of oral health problems.
Nathan Klabunde, DDS, of Northwoods Dental Group in Columbus, Ohio, is an expert in treating dry mouth, and he often recommends a combination of medical treatments and home remedies. If you’re plagued with dry mouth, here’s how our team can help you.
Lots of factors can cause dry mouth, including:
Regardless of the underlying cause, the symptoms of dry mouth are similar and include:
If you have dry mouth, you may not have all of these symptoms. But, you can still develop oral health problems as a result of low saliva production.
Saliva plays an important role in keeping your mouth healthy. In addition to helping wash away food particles, saliva contains chemicals that neutralize the acids that attack your tooth enamel.
The chemical components of saliva help remineralize your teeth, keeping your protective enamel healthy and strong. These chemicals also help break down food particles to make swallowing easier.
Regular saliva flow also helps prevent sticky plaque from clinging to the surfaces of teeth, which, in turn, helps reduce the risk of developing tooth decay and gum disease. And, without adequate saliva, bacteria can grow and multiply, which can increase the risk of developing tooth and gum infections.
Plus, by continually refreshing your mouth, your saliva helps your breath stay fresher and cuts down on tooth staining and discoloration.
Treating dry mouth begins by understanding what’s causing it. If your symptoms are due to a medication or an underlying medical condition, your treatment will begin by looking for ways to treat those issues or manage them more effectively.
Salivary gland problems may require medical treatment or, for infections, medications aimed at restoring gland health and function. In addition, Dr. Klabunde may recommend over-the-counter or prescription rinses, lozenges, and mouth sprays to relieve your symptoms and help your mouth stay moist.
In addition, there are plenty of steps you can take yourself to relieve your symptoms and help you avoid oral health problems. Here are some of the things you can do:
Because dry mouth increases the risks of developing oral health problems, it’s very important to practice good oral health care, to have regular checkups, and to call the office at the very first sign of tooth or gum pain.
Dry mouth symptoms are certainly uncomfortable, and that’s reason enough to seek medical treatment. But this condition can also take a serious toll on your oral health, which means it’s also important to seek care as soon as possible.
To learn how Dr. Klabunde and his team can help you manage your dry mouth symptoms, call 614-347-3291 or book an appointment online with Northwoods Dental Group today.
