The Dry Mouth Article You Wish You Read Last Year
It’s actually pretty easy to ignore dry mouth. Even if it becomes hard to ignore the daily inconvenience and discomfort of dry mouth, it’s fairly easy to put off talking to your doctor or dentist about it. After all, it’s just a dry mouth. It’s just a matter of comfort, right?
Wrong.
Why Worry About Dry Mouth?
Saliva is important. It is your mouth’s natural defense system. It washes contaminants away from your teeth. It helps return your mouth’s pH levels back to neutral after eating.
When you don’t have enough saliva, your teeth are exposed to a great deal of additional stresses. The cavity causing bacteria can proliferate. This proliferation can cause cavities and bad breath. The high acid environment that builds after eating does not return to normal, leading to a loss of minerals, which causes a loss of enamel. Dry mouth is a direct risk for your teeth.
What is Causing Your Dry Mouth?
There are several possible reasons for dry mouth. One common cause is medication use. Dry mouth is a remarkably common side effect for several of the most common types of prescription and over the counter medications.
There are several medical conditions that can also cause dry mouth. Some, like Sjogren’s syndrome, are genetic. Age related dry mouth also is fairly common. Diabetes also is frequently accompanied by dry mouth, as are several other chronic medical conditions. Smoking also can decrease saliva production.
What Can Be Done About It?
The good news is that there is no need to suffer with the discomfort or the negative effects of dry mouth. There are numerous options available for dry mouth sufferers to relieve the condition.
First, sipping water throughout the day can help alleviate dry mouth. Water is the best choice for sipping thought the day, since it does not alter the pH of the mouth, which would increase your cavity risk.
It is important to check with your doctor and your dentist to make sure that no underlying condition that requires specialized treatment is causing or aggravating your dry mouth symptoms. You should also review your medications with your health team to see if there are safe alternatives to medications that may be causing your dry mouth.
Another option for moisturizing a dry mouth is to use a rinse. CariFree CTx3 Rinse can provide dry mouth relief while safeguarding against other factors that contribute to cavity formation. CTx3 Rinse is alcohol free, so it will not further aggravate a dry mouth.
Xylitol containing products have also been shown to help with dry mouth. CariFree offers xylitol containing rinse, spray and gum. So, regardless of how you prefer to treat your dry mouth, CariFree makes a product to help.
Dry mouth, while uncomfortable, does not have to mean the end of your oral health. Working with your doctor and dentist, you can build a plan to keep your mouth comfortable and healthy. A change in medications, regular water, and the right oral care products can make all the difference for you.