A decrease in saliva flow resulting in a dry mouth is a common problem, especially among older men and women.
A dry mouth is not only uncomfortable, it can cause tooth damage. Saliva is required to keep the mouth lubricated, wash the food from teeth, and neutralize the acids that can cause plaque. Extensive decay can develop in the absence of saliva for dental patients with chronic dry mouth. The Yuma Dentist wants our patients to be aware the role dry mouth plays.
Symptoms of dry mouth include:
- Dry, red, or grooved tongue
- Persistent sore throat or hoarseness
- Sticky feeling in the mouth
- Saliva that seems thick and stringy
- Bad breath
- Difficulty chewing, speaking and swallowing
- Changes in taste
- Difficulty wearing dentures (Mayo Clinic)
Contributing conditions include medications and treatments, reduction in the body’s capacity to metabolize medication, chronic health problems, and poor nutrition.
For example, chemotherapy medication can reduce saliva production, and radiation treatments to the head and neck can damage salivary glands, decreasing saliva production.
Other medical conditions include diabetes, stroke, or yeast infection in the mouth.
Decongestants, blood pressure medications, antidepressants, and painkillers (all used extensively in Yuma) are some of the medications that can lead to dry mouth.
It is common for allergy-prone The Yuma Dentist dental patients to complain of dry mouth when they start taking antihistamines during the hay fever season.
The following can also contribute to dry mouth:
- Snoring or breathing through the mouth
- Drinking alcohol
- Tobacco use (cigarettes, e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco)
- Recreational drugs
If you suffer from dry mouth, it’s important to pay special attention to your dental health. The first step is to talk to a professional. Call The Yuma Dentist to schedule an appointment with dentist Roopinder Mann.
CONTACT THE YUMA DENTIST (TAP TO OPEN IN GOOGLE MAPS):
THE YUMA DENTIST – PACIFIC AVENUE
1630 S PACIFIC AVE STE 104
YUMA, AZ 85365
928-783-0804THE YUMA DENTIST – FORTUNA FOOTHILLS
11231 E COMMERCIAL CENTER LOOP STE 105
YUMA, AZ 85367
928-783-8300
