Dry Mouth The Top Ten Things You Should Know

By AustinDentalSpa on June 21, 2010

Did you ever have a dry, uncomfortable feeling in your mouth? If so, it may be dry mouth syndrome, also known as xerostomia. Check out the top ten things you should know about dry mouth!

1. The common signs of dry mouth syndrome are: a dry, sticky feeling in the mouth, insufficient or thick saliva, a rough dry tongue, bad breath, difficulty swallowing or talking, cracked lips
2. ‘The three leading causes for dry mouth syndrome are: medications, medical conditions and stress.
3. Diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and stroke can affect the oral saliva producing glands, causing dry mouth syndrome.
4. Open mouth breathing and snoring contribute to dry mouth syndrome.
5. Dry mouth syndrome makes people susceptible to tooth decay, tooth inflammation, tooth infection, gum disease and burning tongue syndrome.
6. Salvia consists of water, proteins and enzymes that have the power to fend off bacteria in the mouth.
7. Insufficient saliva can make it difficult to chew food properly and may inhibit the taste of food.
8. Insufficient saliva flow can dry out nasal passages and makes your throat horse.
9. A normal human being produces 3 pints of saliva each day.
10. The elimination of food debris is reduced with dry mouth syndrome.
11. Cigarette smoking and caffeine drinking increase the risk of dry mouth syndrome.

Here Comes the Moisture!

Years ago, people that struggled with dry mouth syndrome did not have many options. Today, there are a number of remedies that can trigger saliva flow to protect your teeth and gums from irreparable damage. In fact, these remedies help your mouth feel fresher, cleaner and can make a dry mouth victim a better kisser! You can always take the old fashioned method of increasing your water intake and sucking on ice chips. If that fails, dental manufacturers have come up with some other tips, including:

• Stimulate Saliva Flow: There are sugar free candies and gum designed to stimulate saliva flow.  There are also oral rinses and oral prescription medications that can create saliva flow.
• Oral Moisturizers: There are oral moisturizers in the form of spray and gels that when placed on the tongue, fill your mouth with refreshing light moisture.
• Artificial Saliva: There are saliva substitutes that are available for those that suffer the most.

If you are interested in learning more about dry mouth syndrome, contact Dr. Mark Sweeney, an Austin Texas dentist, at (512) 452-9296.

Posted in Dentistry FAQ's, Oral Conditions