Some Major Reasons to Not Ignore Dry Tongue
Sometimes, it just seems easier to ignore a health problem than to try and deal with it. This is particularly true of anything we can convince ourselves is a minor inconvenience. We’ve all done it or at least been tempted to do it. But, ignoring a problem doesn’t actually make it go away. In fact, with health problems, ignoring a problem generally gives it a chance to get much worse.
If you’ve been ignoring a dry tongue, telling yourself that it’ll be fine and it really doesn’t matter that much, here are the top 4 reasons to stop ignoring and start treating:
It Hurts
This seems pretty obvious on the one hand. On the other hand, it’s human to try to wish away things we don’t know how to fix. But, pain and discomfort are your body’s way of trying to draw your attention to a problem. There’s no reason to spend your days trying to push past the discomfort caused by dry tongue. You are experiencing no health benefit from the misery, so why put up with it? The fact that you are hurting because of a dry tongue is reason enough to treat it.
It’s Probably Making Your Bad Breath Worse
Your dry tongue is a breeding ground for the bacteria that contribute to halitosis. Saliva doesn’t just keep your mouth hydrated. It rinses away bacteria, fungi, and other pathogens that throw your oral health out of balance. The dreaded morning breath occurs after saliva production slows down and you don’t swallow to keep naturally rinsing your mouth. Treat your dry tongue to help lessen bad breath.
It’s Likely Contributing to Cavity Formation.
The same salivary action that keeps your bad breath at bay helps knock down the bacteria that contribute to cavity formation. Saliva is incredibly important for maintaining a healthy oral pH, which prevents acid loving bacteria from thriving in your mouth and stripping vital minerals out of your enamel. Saliva also rinses away particles that otherwise stick to your teeth and provide food for plaque causing bacteria. Your dry tongue means that your mouth is not making enough saliva to protect your teeth. Not wanting the bigger agony of treating cavities is an excellent reason to treat dry tongue.
It Could Be a Sign of a Whole-Body Disease
As scary as it may sound, several autoimmune diseases, those are diseases where the body attacks itself, have dry tongue as a symptom. The longer you ignore dry tongue, the longer the disease has a chance to do damage throughout the body. Your dentist or primary care physician can help evaluate your symptoms and decide if the dry tongue you are experiencing is just part of a much bigger disease process.
When you are ready to stop ignoring and start treating dry tongue, you will find there are a number of products that can provide immediate and long-term relief. A simple oral spray can stop symptoms on the spot. Rinses may provide longer term relief, particularly if your dry tongue is related to a larger chronic health condition. Chewing xylitol gum can help you produce more of your own saliva and treat bad breath at the same time. The important thing is to decide that you deserve better than ignoring your own health.