When you don’t have the proper amount of spit to keep your mouth moist, you may have a disease known as dry mouth. If you don’t have the right amount of saliva, easy tasks like chewing, swallowing and talking can become hard. But what’s more, having a dehydrated mouth can raise your risk of cavities and tooth decay; when spit – which rinses away dangerous acids and contains helpful minerals – is absent, your mouth becomes a war zone!
Though many older people suffer from it, dry mouth is not necessarily part of the aging process. (Meds commonly used in advanced age are, however, more likely to create side effects of dry mouth.) Below are some of the actual roots of dry mouth:
-Cancer treatment. The medications used with chemo treatment and the radiation itself may result in difficulties leading to dry mouth.
-Damaged nerves. When the saliva gland nerves are harmed in accidents involving the head and neck, the salivary glands may not produce as much spit as they did prior to the incidents.
-Diseases. Multiple diseases and disorders that impact the salivary glands, the part of your oral system which produces saliva. HIV, AIDS and Sjogren’s Syndrome are all diseases that result in dry mouth.
-Side effects of medicine. Multiple medicines, including high-blood-pressure medications and depression medications, have side effects resulting in dry mouth.
When you come to Open Door Family Dentistry, you can be sure that we’ll check you for dry mouth. If you think you may suffer from dry mouth, don’t hesitate to call us at 541-773-4073 so we can pencil in your next appointment with Dr. Don Schiess in our Medford, Oregon, office. The whole team at Open Door Family Dentistry is ready to help you get your dry mouth under control.
