Dry Mouth – The Impact On Your Oral Health
Useful advice for our Wickford patients who suffer with this problem.
A dry mouth (Xerostomia) is something that most of us have probably experienced at some point in our life. In most cases, we probably give it little thought and just drink water to rehydrate ourselves. While this is the correct thing to do if it does occur, it is worth understanding a little more about the effect that this issue can have on our teeth and gums, especially if it becomes a regular occurrence.
Sometimes, we have a dry mouth simply because we haven’t drunk enough fluid throughout the day. This isn’t the only reason though and other factors may cause this problem to be more persistent, putting our teeth and gums at risk.
What causes a dry mouth?
In addition to general dehydration, there are a number of things that can lead to a regular dry mouth. This includes quite a few medications such as for blood pressure and antidepressants for example. This might be listed as a side effect on the information sheet provided with them.
Some medical conditions can make patients more prone to having a dry mouth, with diabetes being perhaps the most common among them. Patients suffering from these ailments will need to pay additional care to their daily oral health routine. Some cancer treatments and nerve damage may also affect this as can some of our lifestyle choices, especially if we choose to smoke or consume too much alcohol. It is important that you quit smoking if you still do as this not only causes a dry mouth but is a major factor in oral cancer. Alcohol should also be consumed in moderation only.
How does it affect our teeth and gums?
One of the main issues that having a dry mouth is likely to cause patients of Cygnet Dental Wickford is an increased risk of gum disease. This can lead to some unpleasant symptoms such as sore and inflamed gums as well as halitosis, or bad breath. If not treated and managed effectively, it may lead to tooth loss as well.
Tooth decay is also more likely as saliva works to flush away some of the food and sugars that remain in our mouths after eating or drinking. While swilling water around the mouth after eating is a good idea and we do recommend it, it isn’t a substitute for ‘round the clock’ removal by saliva.
Thrush is also more likely if we have a dry mouth. This is because the foods that feed the fungus are not being washed away and can make it expand more rapidly. You may need to take antifungal medications to treat this.
Cuts and infections of the mouth are less likely to heal as quickly as they should do and may become more problematic. Finally, saliva plays an important part in the digestive process, starting the initial breakdown ready for food to be swallowed. Without the lubrication of saliva, even the swallowing act in itself becomes more difficult.
What can you do to help prevent dry mouth?
If you have certain illnesses or are on medication, you may need to discuss a solution to this with your GP, who will be able to offer their professional advice. Before this though, there are a number of fairly straightforward things that you can do to try to improve the situation. The most obvious of all is to drink more water and doing this on a more regular basis should certainly help. Chewing a sugar free gum can also help to promote a better saliva flow. Do make sure it is sugar free though.
If you currently smoke, you should quit. Smoking is a key contributor not only to gum disease but also to oral cancers which can radically affect your life and can even prove to be fatal. Excessive alcohol consumption can have a similar effect. While alcohol consumed in moderation is generally ok, if you do drink in the evening, remember to drink plenty of water before going to bed to avoid a really dry mouth the following morning.
It goes without saying that both brushing and flossing should be carried out diligently. This is even more important for dry mouth sufferers who are at a greater risk of gum disease and tooth decay. Make sure that you use a toothpaste that contains fluoride too as this will help to protect the tooth enamel.
How can we help patients who have xerostomia?
At the Cygnet Dental Practice, we are experienced in treating patients with a wide range of medical issues, including those which contribute to xerostomia. It is important that you let us know of any illnesses that you have, or changes in medication, so that we can keep our records up to date. This is important and can affect how we treat some problems in certain circumstances.
Naturally, our dental team can help to treat any issues, such as tooth decay, if and when they arise, but perhaps the most important thing for dry mouth patients is to make sure that they see our oral hygienist. Generally, this will be every six months but if your problem is significant, they may recommend that you attend every three months.
Seeing the hygienist allows you to discuss ways to control the problems that a dry mouth can bring. You will also receive a ‘scale and polish’ treatment which helps to control and manage any issues with gum disease that the dry mouth may have led to.
If you would like to discuss this topic with us any further or to book your hygienist appointment, you can contact our Wickford dental clinic by giving our friendly reception team a call on 01268 733078. We are here to help.