September 2, 2009
Dry mouth is a major concern for the doctors at the dental office of Dr Maya. Decreased salivary flow or XEROSTEMIA is often called “cotton mouth” and it has been estimated that it affects as many as 1 in 4 adults. Once thought to be only in senior citizens, dentists are finding dry mouth across a wide age range. Saliva is very important for digestion, it helps prevent cavities and protects all the different tender tissues in the mouth and it helps us to taste our food.
The major cause of dry mouth is that it is the most common side effect of both prescription and over the counter medications. It is believed that up to 90% of all issues with dry mouth are because of meds, such as antihistamines, antidepressants, antihypertensive (blood pressure) and decongestants to name a few. Other causes are side effects of diseases and infections such as Alzheimer’s, diabetes and HIV/AIDS. Lastly, the lifestyle choices of smoking, alcohol and caffeine can all contribute to dry mouth symptoms
Some signs of dry mouth include a sticky feeling in the mouth, a constant desire to drink, thick or ropy saliva and bad breath. If you have dry mouth you increase your chances of getting deep cavities around the gum line of your teeth and also you increase your chances of getting gum disease.
How do you get relief? Besides the normal home care of brushing twice a day and flossing, you can chew sugarless gum or sugarless candy. Avoid overly salty food, citrus juices and real dry foods. You should avoid mouth rinses that have a lot of alcohol in them, and limit your caffeine and alcohol consumption. Of course, you should be drinking plenty of water.
Lastly, if you feel you have any of the above symptoms you should see a dentist as soon as you can. If your biofilm is acidic medications that dry your mouth may be very detrimental to your teeth and can cause massive decay that can cause you to lose some teeth. Call us today at 818-762-0105 if you have any questions or would like us to take a look at your mouth.
