There’s much more to your saliva than just plain spit.
It’s your mouth’s un-sung secret weapon. It works for you around the clock to fight tooth decay and gum disease, and it’s also vital to protecting your overall health.
Unfortunately, many of us don’t produce as much saliva as we need for it to properly do its job. More than a ⅓ of adults suffer from chronic dry mouth – we call it Xerostomia in the dental field.
Compared to the dry mouth you might experience after eating too much salt in a meal, or drinking one too many glasses of wine or beer, chronic dry mouth is an unwelcome nuisance that lingers.
Saliva Flow + Its Benefits
When your saliva flows properly it helps rinse food debris from your mouth, It makes it easier for you to break down food when you eat, and it has disease fighting proteins and minerals in it that protect you from cavities, infections and bad breath!
As you can see, your saliva works hard for you every day, in the background, to keep you healthy. Again, that’s when it’s flowing like it should.
The Symptoms of Chronic Dry Mouth
But what happens when your saliva starts to dry up? When chronic dry mouth gets in the way of letting your saliva do its job bad things can happen to your oral health. Keep an eye out for some of these symptoms.
- Increased Cavities
- Chronic Bad Breath
- You Have Inflamed Gums – Gum Disease
- Your Tooth Enamel is Eroding
- Tooth Sensitivity
6 Culprits of Chronic Dry Mouth
Occasional dry mouth happens. Stress can trigger it, as well as drinking alcohol or consuming certain foods. When dry mouth becomes a daily nuisance that disrupts your day-to-day life, there may be a more serious cause for it.
- Sleeping With Your Mouth Open
Night time open mouth breather? If that’s you, this habit contributes to your chronic dry mouth. And routine open mouth breathing while you sleep allows acids to erode the enamel of your teeth – that’s 6-8 hours a day. A recent survey states that over 60% of Americans breathe through their mouths when they sleep. Open mouth breathing might be related to a habit, congestion, or having a sleeping disorder like sleep apnea, which repeatedly halts and then re-starts your breathing throughout your sleep and it can also cause chronic snoring. - Health Issues
Certain health issues can contribute to chronic dry mouth, such as Diabetes, Parkinson’s, or Acid Reflux. - Various Medications
Quite a few commonly prescribed or over-the-counter medications can promote on-going dry mouth. Antihistamines or decongestants for allergies; some pain medications, Antidepressants or anti-anxiety; blood pressure drugs; and the list goes on – 80% of prescriptions can cause it. - Cancer Therapy
Undergoing certain cancer treatments such as chemotherapy often create side affects such as decreased saliva flow. - Not Drinking Enough Water
Keeping hydrated? One study claims that 4 out 10 adults don’t. What’s the magic number? About 6 pints for women and 8 pints for men. Staying well hydrated throughout the day will give your saliva a fighting chance to do its job. - Lifestyle Choices
Smoking, or chewing tobacco and drinking alcohol can aggravate your dry mouth symptoms, as can smoking cannabis, which can also increase your risk for gum disease.
Suffering from on-going dry mouth is not fun. It disrupts your life, and leads to long-term dental or health issues. Fortunately, having a mouth that feels as dry as a desert doesn’t have to be part of your life moving forward. We can help reduce your dry mouth symptoms and protect your teeth. Possible dental remedies could include anti-cavity oral rinses, prescription toothpaste, in-office fluoride rinses, and more.
If you believe you have chronic dry mouth, please call us at (206) 524-1000 to schedule an exam and consultation, or request your appointment here. We’ll review the health of your gums and, based on the level of your gum disease, we’ll help you develop a treatment plan to eliminate it, or help you effectively manage it.