A decrease of saliva flow resulting in a dry mouth is a common dilemma, especially among older people.
Dry mouth is not only uncomfortable, it can cause tooth damage. Saliva is needed to keep the mouth lubricated, wash the food from teeth, and neutralize the acids that can cause plaque. Extensive decay can arise in the absence of saliva for dental patients with chronic dry mouth.
Symptoms of dry mouth include:
- Dry, red or grooved tongue
- Persistent sore throat or hoarseness
- Sticky feeling in the mouth
- Saliva that seems thick and stringy
- Bad breath
- Difficulty chewing, speaking and swallowing
- Changes in taste
- Difficulty wearing dentures (Mayo Clinic)
Contributing factors include medications and treatments, reduction in the body’s capacity to metabolize medication, chronic health dilemmas and poor nutrition.
For example, chemotherapy medication can curtail saliva production and radiation treatments to the head and neck can damage salivary glands, decreasing saliva production.
Other medical conditions include diabetes, stroke, or yeast infection in the mouth.
Decongestants, blood pressure medications, antidepressants, and painkillers (all used extensively in Alexandria) are some of the medications that can bring about dry mouth.
It is common for allergy-prone Mt. Vernon Center For Dentistry dental patients to complain of dry mouth when they start taking antihistamines during the hay fever season.
The following can also contribute to dry mouth:
- Snoring or breathing through the mouth
- Drinking alcohol
- Tobacco use (cigarettes, e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco)
- Recreational drugs
If you experience dry mouth, it’s critical to pay special attention to your dental health. The first step is to talk to a professional. Call Mt. Vernon Center For Dentistry to schedule an appointment with Drs. Drs. Geren & Mady.
Contact Mt. Vernon Center For Dentistry:
703-360-5881
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
8101 Hinson Farm Rd Ste 114
Alexandria, Virginia
22306
