What to Know About Dry Mouth and How to Begin Treating It

There are more than 400 related reasons you could be experiencing it. And those are the medications associated with the condition known as dry mouth.

Antihistamines, diuretics, pain medications, and anti-depressants are among the common causes. Whatever the cause, dry mouth can be a serious health issue. It’s important to your oral and overall health that you contact your Roswell family dentist if your mouth feels abnormally dry or your unable to produce saliva.

Who should be concerned?

Anyone can suffer from dry mouth syndrome. If you’re over the age of 65 you’re among 30 percent of those who experience the condition.

Your first clue, aside from noticeable dryness, is difficulty chewing, tasting, or swallowing. Other symptoms include:

• A uncharacteristic build-up of plaque on your teeth
• An increase in the number of cavities diagnosed during a dental check up
• Tongue sensitivity or a burning mouth sensation
• Bad breath
• Diagnosed gum disease
• Problems wearing dentures such as fit, etc.

How to treat and stop dry mouth

Our Roswell dental care can provide a diagnosis and provide treatment for dry mouth. The symptoms associated will also require attention.

There are over-the-counter treatments available that focus on increasing your saliva production. Once we diagnose your specific causes we can recommend the best treatment solution including procedures to treat any tooth or gum related issues.

In the meantime we encourage you to follow a few effective habits to help with dry mouth.

• Brush and floss daily. This may sound obvious but it’s important to be consistent. Removal of food particles and stimulating your gum tissue can help produce saliva.
• Chew sugar-free gum. Chewing helps stimulate saliva production too.
• Watch your diet and lifestyle. Foods and beverages with a high acid content, dry foods such as toast and crackers, foods high in salt, and caffeinated beverages can enhance dry mouth symptoms. Smoking and alcohol can also contribute to dry mouth.
• Stay hydrated. Keep water on hand and drink it throughout the day.

Contact your Roswell family dentist about any symptoms of dry mouth. Schedule an oral examination for more information and a diagnosis of what could be causing yours.