Should I Be Concerned About Dry Mouth?

Do you know the feeling? You wake up from a deep sleep, and your mouth feels as dry as the desert. You need water — now! That strange feeling you get can usually be relieved by drinking a few sips of water, but what if it couldn’t? What if dry mouth was something you experienced all day, every day? This is a reality for the roughly one in four Americans who suffer from clinical dry mouth. As your holistic and biological dentist in Wilmington, we want you to know that dry mouth or xerostomia is a condition that shouldn’t be overlooked. Let us explain why.

What is Xerostomia or Dry Mouth?

When your mouth is overly dry, it’s because your body cannot successfully produce the right amount of saliva. Our body carries out an important function every day, but we don’t even think about it. At our Wilmington biological and holistic dental office, we’re always working with patients who struggle with dry mouth. It’s essential to help your body stay hydrated and find the right balance because saliva is necessary for digestion and washing away bad bacteria that like to hang around on your teeth. This bacteria thrives in dry conditions, creating decay and deterioration.

Why Should I Care About Dry Mouth?

One of the biggest things everyone should know about dry mouth is that it can be a side effect of a more serious health problem. Dry mouth is often seen as a symptom of something else, from side effects caused by certain medications to disease or underlying infection. When a patient struggles with dry mouth, the problems it causes begin as irritations and worsen from there. Dry mouth can lead to other issues such as:

• Cracked skin around your mouth or lips
• A sore throat
• Raw or sticky tongue
• Problems with chewing or swallowing

Don’t let dry mouth control you and your lifestyle. Come see us and talk about your options.

What Makes Dry Mouth Worse?

There are a few things that can actually worsen your xerostomia condition, such as:

• Smoking causes severe functional alterations in the salivary glands
• Alcohol consumption reduces salivary flow
• Sodium lauryl sulfate
• Alcohol-based mouthwashes
• Hard, dry, or salty foods
• Carbonated and caffeinated drinks
• Chewable vitamin C, sugared, or acidic lozenges

As your Wilmington biological and holistic dentist, we have solutions to treat your dry mouth that can help improve your quality of life. Our team of dentists and dental health professionals can diagnose your oral health issues and help you achieve better overall health as well. If dry mouth is negatively affecting you or someone in your life, it’s time you call All About Smiles.