Dry Mouth
What Is Dry Mouth?
Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, is a condition that affects the salivary glands in your mouth, causing a decrease in the production of saliva. Saliva is essential for keeping your mouth moist and lubricated, neutralizing acids that are harmful to teeth, helping you speak, swallow, and digest food. When you have dry mouth, you may experience a range of uncomfortable symptoms, including a dry, sticky feeling in your mouth, difficulty speaking, a constant thirst, and an increased risk of dental problems like cavities and gum disease.
Dry mouth can be caused by a variety of factors, including medication side effects, certain medical conditions like diabetes and autoimmune diseases, and lifestyle habits like smoking and alcohol consumption. It can also be a natural part of the aging process.
If left untreated, dry mouth can have serious consequences for your oral health and overall well-being. Before you contact a Toronto dentist to examine a Dry Mouth problem, there are some things you should know as a patient:
- Why Do I Have Dry Mouth?
- Signs And Symptoms Of Dry Mouth
- Treatment Options For Dry Mouth
- Oral Hygiene Tips For Dry Mouth
- Recommended Oral Hygiene Products for Dry Mouth
If you have questions about Dry Mouth or other dental problems, please contact us for more information.
Why Do I Have Dry Mouth?
There are many reasons why you might experience dry mouth, including:
- Medication side effects: Many medications can cause dry mouth as a side effect, including antihistamines, decongestants, antidepressants, and blood pressure medications. If you’re taking any of these drugs, talk to your doctor about your symptoms.
- Medical conditions: Certain medical conditions can also cause dry mouth, such as diabetes, Sjogren’s syndrome (an autoimmune disorder), and Parkinson’s disease. If you have a medical condition that’s causing your dry mouth, treating the underlying condition may help improve your symptoms.
- Lifestyle habits: Smoking and alcohol consumption can both contribute to dry mouth. Smoking can damage your salivary glands, while alcohol can dehydrate your body and reduce saliva production.
- Aging: As you age, your salivary glands may produce less saliva, leading to dry mouth.
- Nerve damage: Nerve damage in the head and neck area can also affect your salivary glands, leading to dry mouth.
- Radiation therapy: If you’ve had radiation therapy for cancer in the head and neck area, you may experience dry mouth as a side effect.
- Mouth breathing: Breathing through your mouth instead of your nose can cause dry mouth, especially at night.
By understanding the underlying causes of your dry mouth, you can take steps to manage your symptoms and improve your overall oral health. If you have further questions about the causes of Dry Mouth, please contact us.
Signs and Symptoms of Dry Mouth
Dry mouth can cause a range of uncomfortable symptoms, including:
- A dry, sticky feeling in your mouth: This is the most common symptom of dry mouth. You may feel like your mouth is coated with a thick layer of mucus that you can’t get rid of.
- Difficulty speaking: Without enough saliva to moisten your mouth and tongue, you may find it harder to speak clearly.
- Constant thirst: Because your mouth feels dry, you may feel like you need to drink water constantly.
- Dry or sore throat: Your throat may also feel dry or scratchy, making it difficult to swallow.
- Bad breath: Without enough saliva to wash away bacteria and food particles, you may develop bad breath.
- Difficulty chewing and swallowing: Saliva helps moisten food and make it easier to chew and swallow. Without enough saliva, you may find it harder to eat.
- Gum disease and tooth decay: Saliva helps neutralize acids produced by bacteria in your mouth, which can lead to gum disease and tooth decay. Without enough saliva, you may be at a higher risk for these dental problems.
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to talk to your dentist or doctor. They can help diagnose the underlying cause of your dry mouth and recommend treatment options to help manage your symptoms. For more information about the signs and symptoms of Dry Mouth, please contact us.
Treatment Options for Dry Mouth
If you’re experiencing dry mouth, there are several treatment options available, including:
- Over-the-counter saliva substitutes: These products mimic the natural lubricating properties of saliva and can provide temporary relief from dry mouth symptoms.
- Prescription medications: Your doctor may prescribe medications that can stimulate saliva production or treat the underlying medical condition causing your dry mouth.
- Fluoride tray: A fluoride tray is a custom-made tray that you wear at home to apply fluoride to your teeth. Fluoride can help strengthen your teeth and protect against decay, which can be a concern if you have dry mouth.
- Dental fillings: If you have cavities caused by dry mouth, your dentist may recommend filling them with dental fillings. This can help prevent further decay and protect your teeth.
- Dental crowns: If you have severely damaged or decayed teeth, your dentist may recommend placing crowns over them. Crowns can help protect your teeth and restore their function.
- Lifestyle changes: Making certain lifestyle changes can also help manage dry mouth symptoms. For example, drinking plenty of water, avoiding alcohol and tobacco, and chewing sugar-free gum or candy can all help stimulate saliva production.
Your treatment plan will depend on the underlying cause of your dry mouth and the severity of your symptoms. Be sure to talk to your dentist or doctor about the best treatment options for you. If you have further questions about Dry Mouth treatment, please contact us.
Oral Hygiene Tips For Dry Mouth
If you have dry mouth, following a good oral hygiene routine can help prevent dental problems and keep your mouth comfortable. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Brush your teeth twice a day: Conventional wisdom says that you should brush at least twice a day; once in the morning and once before you go to bed. This will help remove plaque and bacteria that can cause tooth decay and gum disease. Two times a day is a good rule of thumb. But ideally, you should brush right after a meal. This is to maximize the amount of time your teeth stay clean between meals.
- Use a soft bristle toothbrush or electric toothbrush: A soft-bristled toothbrush or electric toothbrush can help prevent damage to your teeth and gums, especially if you have dry mouth. A soft bristle manual toothbrush we highly recommend is Curaprox CS5460 Ultra Soft Swiss Toothbrush. An electric toothbrush that we highly recommend is Philips Sonicare Protectiveclean 6100.
- Use a high fluoride concentration toothpaste: Be sure to use a high fluoride toothpaste to strengthen your tooth enamel. One brand that we highly recommend is Colgate PreviDent 5000 ppm Booster Plus Toothpaste
- Floss daily: Flossing can help remove food particles and plaque from between your teeth, which can help prevent cavities and gum disease. If traditional floss is too difficult to use, consider using a water flosser.
- Use a dry mouth mouthwash: Rinsing with a mouthwash can help freshen your breath and reduce bacteria in your mouth. Look for a mouthwash that’s specifically designed for dry mouth. One brand that we highly recommend is Biotene Dry Mouth Moisturizing Mouthwash.
- Wear a fluoride tray at night: A fluoride tray with fluoride gel can help protect your teeth from decay by delivering a concentrated dose of fluoride to your teeth while you sleep. Fluoride trays are custom made by your dentist. A fluoride gel that we highly recommend is X-PUR NaF Gel.
- Chew xylitol gum or use xylitol lozenges: Xylitol is a natural sweetener that can help stimulate saliva production and prevent tooth decay. Look for sugar-free gum or lozenges that contain at least 1 gram of xylitol per serving. One brand that we highly recommend is XyliMelts Stick-On Melts for Saliva Stimulation.
- Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of water can help keep your mouth moist and prevent dry mouth symptoms. Try to avoid drinks that can dehydrate your body, such as alcohol and caffeine.
- Avoid sugary and acidic foods: Foods and drinks that are high in sugar and acid can damage your teeth and worsen dry mouth symptoms. Instead, choose foods that are high in water content, like fruits and vegetables.
- Attend Regular Check-Ups And Cleanings: Schedule regular check-ups and teeth cleanings with your dentist to monitor the health of your teeth and gums. Your dentist will examine your teeth and take digital dental x-rays to check for any potential problems, such as recurring tooth decay, as well as clean the area and surrounding teeth to remove any plaque or tartar buildup.
By following these oral hygiene tips, you can help manage your dry mouth symptoms and maintain good dental health. For more information about oral hygiene practices for Dry Mouth, please contact us.
Recommended Oral Hygiene Products for Dry Mouth
If you have dry mouth, using the right oral hygiene products can help manage your symptoms and prevent dental problems. Here are our top recommendations:
- Toothbrush: Curaprox CS5460 Ultra Soft Swiss Toothbrush OR Electric Toothbrush: Philips Sonicare Protectiveclean 6100
- Floss: GUM ButlerWeave Dental Floss OR Sunstar 888JC GUM Advanced Care Flossers OR Oral-B Super Floss
- Water Floss: Waterpik Aquarius Water Flosser
- Interdental Brushes: GUM Proxabrush
- Toothpaste: Colgate PreviDent 5000 ppm Booster Plus Toothpaste
- Mouthwash: Biotene Dry Mouth Moisturizing Mouthwash
- Fluoride Gel For Fluoride Trays: X-PUR NaF Gel
- Xylitol Lozenges: XyliMelts Stick-On Melts for Saliva Stimulation.
By using these oral hygiene products regularly, you can help manage your dry mouth symptoms and protect your teeth from cavities. If you have further questions about Dry Mouth products, please contact us.
