Did you know that dry mouth can make you susceptible to periodontal diseases like gingivitis? While dry mouth can seem like just an innocuous but annoying condition, it poses various oral and digestive health threats. For starters, saliva helps maintain the PH balance of your mouth and keeps it free from bacteria build-up by washing away food particles. Without saliva, your mouth becomes a breeding ground for odor-causing bacteria which could lead to bad breath, gum infection and tooth decay. It also makes it hard for you to taste, chew and swallow your food. You may also have difficulty keeping your dentures in place.
There are a lot of factors that can lead to dry mouth. Dehydration due to lack of water intake can cause dry mouth. Certain habits like smoking, breathing through the mouth can dry out saliva and increase the chances of dry mouth. Apart from that, certain ailments, medications and treatments can lead to dry mouth, either permanently or until the usage of such medication stops. A good example would be the Sjorgen’s syndrome, wherein immune cells attack the glands that produce saliva and tears. Chemotherapy can also cause permanent dry mouth as it destroys the salivary glands.
If you suspect that you have dry mouth, immediate action must be made. If you are taking medications that can cause dry mouth, you can go to your physician and ask for an alternative prescription. If not, constant hydration by drinking plenty of fluids as well as eating sugarless gum can stimulate saliva production. Saliva substitutes can also help keep your mouth from drying up if you are suffering from Sjorgen’s syndrome or if you had chemotherapy. A lifestyle change can also improve the condition of a dry mouth. A dry mouth is enough reason to quit smoking as this can dry up your mouth faster.
Prevention, too, is as important as curing the problem. Unless you are suffering from the after-effects of chemotherapy or from a certain ailment, dry mouth can be avoided. Hydrating yourself can reduce the risk of dry mouth. Keep a bottle of water with you all the time so you can take small sips every hour. If you are drinking other liquids, make sure it’s sugar-free. Also, cutting back on alcohol and caffeine can help you prevent dry mouth. Use an alcohol-free mouthwash every time you gargle as this keeps your mouth clean without drying it up.