Dry Mouth

About Dry Mouth

Saliva is one of your biggest natural defenses against plaque. Saliva rinses your mouth and frees it of cavity-causing bacteria and other harmful materials. Diminished saliva production or dry mouth (also called Xerostomia) is a relatively common condition, which makes you more vulnerable to oral problems. If you have an eating disorder or diabetes, there is the possibility you can be plagued with dry mouth. When you eat foods like garlic or use tobacco products, and certain types of medications, such as those used for cancer therapy, can greatly diminish the body's production of saliva. This can lead to dry mouth. There are also other causes that are related to aging. These might include rheumatoid arthritis or compromised immune systems.

Bad breath can be one of the factors that results from dry mouth. Dry mouth, however, can lead to more serious issues. They might include things like burning tongue syndrome. This is a painful condition that is caused by lack of moisture on the tongue.

You may also have other conditions that can be caused by dry mouth, even though it’s not readily apparent. For example, you could have an overly-sensitive tongue, chronic thirst or even experience difficulty in speaking.

There are practical ways to minimize dry mouth if there is no existing medical condition that causes it. One way to minimize it is sipping water on a regular basis. You can also try chewing sugarless gum and avoiding smoking. The bottom line, however, is there are no substitutes for regular dental checkups and practicing good oral hygiene.