If you suffer from Dry Mouth, you know it's
much more than a thirsty feeling. When you have Dry Mouth, your salivary glands
make very little, if any saliva. If you don’t have any saliva, it makes it hard
to eat, taste, and digest food and drink. Saliva also flushes the food
particles out of your teeth reducing the bacteria and acid that can cause tooth
decay.
The Feeling
The corners of your mouth will dry out
because of a lack of saliva. If you have Dry Mouth, your lips can also crack.
Sores may also form around your mouth with your tongue feeling dry and rough. Severe
cases of Dry Mouth can also make it difficult to talk or swallow.
It's Awkward
Because you don’t have enough saliva to rinse
the food and debris from your teeth and gums, you may have chronic bad breath.
People with Dry Mouth who wear lipstick may also have to constantly wipe it off
their teeth because there is no saliva to get the job done. If you are hoarse
or have a tickly throat, you could have Dry Mouth.
Medications
There are over 400 different types of over
the counter and prescription drugs that can cause Dry Mouth. Prescription drugs
that you take for anxiety, stress or to sleep at night, could be causing your
Dry Mouth. If you have high blood pressure, diabetes or depression the drugs
that you are taking could be to blame. Neck and head radiation and chemotherapy
can also cause Dry Mouth.
Nerve Damage
If you have had a neck or head injury, or surgery,
you could have Dry Mouth as some of the nerves that carry the messages from
your brain to your salivary glands could be damaged. Those damaged nerves do
not have the ability to communicate with your salivary glands.
Other Conditions
Sjogren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disorder that
could be to blame for your Dry Mouth. The medical condition causes your white
blood cells to attack the salivary and tear glands. People who have HIV or
diabetes can also develop Dry Mouth.
Tobacco Use
If you smoke pipes, cigars, cigarettes or a
Hookah pipe, you are more susceptible to Dry Mouth than people who do not use
tobacco. Even chewing tobacco can cause Dry Mouth.
Brush and Floss
Your dentist recommends that you brush twice and
floss once each day and use an American Dental Association recommended mouth
rinse. If you can’t brush after you eat, rinse your mouth, and drink water
throughout the day.
If you have Dry Mouth or think you may have
developed it, call or click and schedule an appointment with your dentist who
may be able to help with your chronic Dry Mouth. Call or click today.
