Dry mouth is known in the medical industry as xerostomia. It can be caused by a wide array of factors. Treatment for dry mouth depends on what the cause of the condition is.
There are ways that you can temporarily ward off the negative effects of your mouth being dry, but this is only like putting a Band Aid on it. In order to really treat and prevent the detrimental effects of dry mouth you need to figure out what is causing it.
Saliva plays a very important role in the mouth. It serves to aid in digestion, maintain a balance between healthy bacteria and unhealthy bacteria, and it wards off infection. It neutralizes acids and can even help repair early tooth damage caused by bacteria. When there is not enough saliva in the mouth problems like decay can run wild. Therefore, it is important to control your dry mouth to the best of your ability by finding out what is causing it.
How to Relieve Dry Mouth
There are steps that you can take to manage your symptoms. Try these tips to offer you relief if your mouth is dry.
- Limit the amount of caffeine you consume
- Medications are often the cause-discuss this with your physician
- Chew sugar-free gum
- Do not rinse your mouth with mouthwashes that contain alcohol
- Do not smoke
- Drink more than the recommended daily allowance of water
- Talk to your pharmacists about over-the-counter saliva substitutes like Biotene
- Avoid over-the-counter acetaminophen
- Choose mouthwashes specifically designed for dry mouth
- Avoid acidic and sugary foods
- Brush with fluoride toothpaste
These tips will help you to temporarily manage your condition. To resolve your issues with dry mouth you should talk to your doctor or dentist to figure out what it causing it. It could be medications or even a chronic illness such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Please call us today if you have any questions about persistent dry mouth!