Tired of Dealing with Dry Mouth? Get Tips from the Dentist to Treat It
The medical term is xerostomia but you likely know the experience as dry mouth. As the name implies, it is a condition in which there is not enough saliva to make your mouth moist. There are many potential causes of dry mouth and this can be a very unpleasant condition. What’s worse is that it can cause serious dental issues. Read on to learn more about dry mouth and then contact California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 to make an appointment with a dentist.
Potential causes of dry mouth and the effects
Dry mouth can be caused by a long list of factors but the most common are side effects from certain medications, simply getting older, using tobacco, nerve damage, and chemotherapy. Remember that saliva is there for a reason: It helps keep your teeth clean and move bacteria from your mouth. If you do not have enough saliva then your chances of getting gum disease or similar issues is significantly increased.
Things to avoid if you want to avoid dry mouth
There are a number of options to lower your chances of getting dry mouth and some of those include avoiding substances. If you have dry mouth and want to get rid of it, we recommend avoiding drinks that have either alcohol or caffeine in them. Avoiding tobacco use altogether is a good idea for many reasons, including lowering your chances of getting dry mouth, but if you are not willing to quit then at last try to lower your usage. You should also avoid foods that have high salt content as they can dry the mouth.
Oral health practices that can reduce dry mouth
There are also a few oral health practices that can make a big difference in reducing your chances of having dry mouth. First, we recommend that your brush your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes and that you use a toothpaste that has fluoride in it. Next, we recommend that you floss after each meal. This gets food particles out of your teeth and can help keep your mouth in overall better condition. In fact, following our total guide to home care is a great way to decrease dry mouth.
Stay hydrated and use a humidifier
It could be that your dry mouth is caused by a very obvious factor: Not drinking enough. You should be drinking at least eight, eight-ounce glasses of water each day. Drink a glass of water each morning as soon as you wake up. Then drink plenty of water throughout the day. If you find that you wake up with dry mouth, use a humidifier in your bedroom.
If you have a concern that your dry mouth is caused by an underlying issue then we encourage you to visit your dentist as soon as possible. You can reach California Dental Group at (800) 407-0161 to set up an appointment.
