A decrease in saliva flow resulting in a dry mouth is a common dilemma, especially among older men and women.
A dry mouth is not only uncomfortable, it can cause tooth damage. Saliva is needed to keep the mouth lubricated, wash the food from teeth, and neutralize the acids that can cause plaque. Pence Family Dentistry highlights that extensive cavities can develop in the absence of saliva for dental patients with chronic dry mouth.
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
- Struggles chewing, speaking and swallowing
- Changes in taste
- Difficulty wearing dentures (Mayo Clinic)
Contributing elements include medications and treatments, reduction in the body’s power to metabolize medication, chronic health issues, and poor nutrition.
For example, chemotherapy medication can curtail saliva production, and radiation treatments to the head and neck can damage salivary glands, decreasing saliva production.
Other medical ailments include diabetes, stroke, or yeast infection in the mouth.
Decongestants, blood pressure medications, antidepressants, and painkillers (all used extensively in Fishers) are some of the medications that can lead to dry mouth.
It is common for allergy-prone Pence Family Dentistry 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 critical to pay special attention to your dental health. The first step is to talk to a professional. Call Pence Family Dentistry to schedule an appointment with Dr. Orey Pence.
Contact Pence Family Dentistry:
317-842-2337
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
9744 Lantern Rd
Fishers, Indiana
46037
