Dry mouth: In medical terms, it is known as ‘Xerostomia. It is the condition of not having sufficient saliva to keep the mouth wet. Saliva plays an essential role in maintaining your dental health.
A dry mouth seems like little frustrating but could do major damage to your teeth. It is even painful.
Causes
- Severe panic attack or depression, or stress
- Smoking and drinking
- Nerve damaged due to a head or neck injury
- Sjogren’s syndrome, Autoimmune disorder
- Radiation
- Chemotherapy
- Sleep apnea
- Aging
- Dehydration
- Specific drugs
- Diseases like Diabetes, HIV, Parkinson’s, or Periodontitis
Why should you never ignore its symptoms?
- Saliva keeps your mouth clean as well as battles against bacteria. It minimizes the acids that cause tooth decay.
So, when you have a dry mouth at night, you’re giving access to bacteria to develop. With the lack of saliva, your teeth will slowly become exposed to cavities.
- Dry mouth may also give you an everlasting bad breath.
- Inadequate saliva makes the skin inside and around your mouth, dry and tight too. Lips can crack. Sores can develop at the corners of your mouth. It may become problematic to swallow and talk.
- Dry mouth disturbs your taste buds. You can experience a salty, metallic, or other kinds of taste in your mouth. The tongue may become rough and dry.
- Saliva also eases your digestion. Saliva helps to break down food particles into simpler forms. You may suffer from digestive problems due to a lack of saliva. When you swallow the food, you can face problems, as they are not broken down properly.
- Red spots may appear inside your mouth. Ulcers may occur due to dry mouth.
- The bacteria may grow and spread in your mouth and there is a chance of dental infection. As a matter of fact, when the food reaches your stomach, it contains bacteria. This leads to food poisoning.
- Parotid glands of your ear may get swollen.
- Note: A dry mouth can also be a symptom of severe oral cancer.
- Dentures become painful when you suffer from this condition. Dry mouth and dentures never go together. If the mouth is dry, the dentures may result in sores.
When Should I See My Dentist?
If you suffer from the persistent dry mouth at night or it occurred only when you started taking new medicines, you should visit a dentist at once. Your dentist may suggest altering the dosage or switching to other drugs.
You can also get medications to strengthen the function of your salivary glands.
Seek instant dental help if you have a dry mouth. See your dentist without further delay if you have difficulty in breathing and swallowing or have a high fever.
Prevention
- Brush and floss daily
- Go for regular dental checkups
- Stay hydrated throughout the day
- Use an antibacterial mouth-rinse
- Bring home a humidifier to add moisture to the air
- Chew sugar-free gums to boost saliva production
Get Help!
If you are suffering from dry mouth, and searching for a Dentist in Austin, TX, then surely visit us at TRU Dentistry Austin. Let us help you with the quality dental care that you deserve!
