Dry Mouth

Everyone experiences dryness in their mouth from time to time, and it usually can be cured with a simple glass of water. However, dry mouth can be something to worry about when this uncomfortable feeling lasts for long periods of time, with no simple remedies that offer relief. The medical terminology for this instance is called xerostomia, meaning that there is not enough saliva in your mouth to keep it adequately wet and moisturized.

Xerostomia is a fairly common oral issue and can be caused by a number of factors. Medical professionals have linked stress, medications, cancer therapy, tobacco, recreational drug use and some autoimmune diseases as causes of dry mouth.

Some of the tell-tale signs of dry mouth are a dry and sticky feeling in your mouth, along with bad breath and difficulty speaking and swallowing. But, even if you think that the symptoms aren’t that uncomfortable, we recommend that you seek consultation about your dry mouth issues as soon as possible. Waiting to seek professional help about your dry mouth can make it more likely you will experience increased plaque on your teeth, which will lead to tooth decay and gum disease, mouth sores, and dryness of lips, as well.

But, treating dry mouth is simple once a plan of action is created by your dentist. Everyone will have varying causes of their dry mouth, which is why everyone affected by this problem will need to do different things in order to treat it. For example, if your dry mouth is being caused by a certain medication, your dentist can help oversee changing the dosage of the medication in order to diminish your dry mouth.

Other common treatments for xerostomia include prescriptions for mouth rinses or other medications by your dentists, or by certain lifestyle changes. Lifestyle changes that can potentially help dry mouth include taking plenty of sips of water throughout the day, sucking on sugar-free candy and gum, and putting a humidifier in your bedroom. These simple tricks work towards keeping your mouth more moisturized and alleviate some dry mouth symptoms.

Treating dry mouth is easiest with the help and expertise of a dentist at Lake City Dental. We will strive to come up with a personalized and highly effective plan for your dry mouth problems, so give us a call and let us help you have one less thing to worry about.