Dry Mouth?
There are few things in life as awful as suffering from dry mouth. You know the feeling I’m talking about. It’s like your mouth is full of cotton and no about of water could help. Even if you do not have chronic dry mouth, there is a high chance you have experienced the sensation at some point, or know someone who suffers from this unfortunate condition. Olivia, one of our highly skilled hygienists at Reflections Dental Care has some answers regarding dry mouth.
When we asked Olivia what the cause of dry mouth might be, she told us that there are many causes. Dry mouth is often a side effect of certain medications. While some medications might not have dry mouth listed as a side effect, it can become a side effect when the medication is taken alongside other medications. This phenomenon is often referred to as polypharmacy. Radiation and chemotherapy are also common culprits when it comes to dry mouth. Olivia also mentioned that mouth breathing, clogged salivary glands, smoking, age, and spicy foods are all common contributors to that uncomfortable, dry mouth feeling.
While it might feel like there is nothing you can do to remedy the situation, Olivia has some suggestions that might help! Her first, and most easily implemented is to stay hydrated and drink water throughout the day. This might seem like a simple fix, but being hydrated can go a long way in remedying your dry mouth as well as other issues you might be having. Olivia also suggests using sugar-free mints or gum in order to stimulate the salivary glands, or dry mouth products like Biotene. Olivia stressed the importance of doing whatever you can to treat dry mouth because of the possible complications that it might cause.
Dry mouth can cause patients to be more prone to cavities, acid erosion, oral candidiasis, altered taste, halitosis, dysphagia and fissured tongue.
If you suffer from dry mouth, you are not the only one! Remember that the team here at Reflections Dental Care is here to help in any way possible. Next time you are in, make sure to mention the problem to your hygienist or doctor, and we can partner with you to figure out the best way to help you to remedy that awful dry mouth feeling.