You may occasionally hear the term dry mouth mentioned as a side effect for particular medications or you may realize that your mouth feels cottony every now and then. However, when our Upton, MA team talks about this disorder specifically as a chronic concern for your oral health, it may be an issue you usually just dismiss as something you don’t really need to know about. Perhaps you assume it’s something that affects lots of other people but it would never occur in your mouth. Think again! And…learn more about it, so you can keep your mouth moist and in excellent shape.
What’s Dry Mouth?
Dry mouth. It sounds like no big deal, and if it’s a passing concern then it isn’t. However, if it’s something that begins affecting you on a regular basis, then it’s the type of disorder that suggests you should contact our team. Usually, your mouth experiences a steady flow of saliva throughout the day. It helps your mouth remain healthy. When you don’t have the same steady flow (or you do but something is causing it to dry out), you end up with dry tissues!
Why Is It Bad?
We remind patients that dry mouth brings negative side effects with it because you need moist oral tissues in order to enjoy optimal oral health. Here are the specifics you may not realize just yet:
- Bacteria are always present in your mouth. They can multiply quite quickly when they’re not brushed away and when they aren’t rinsed and kept under control by saliva flow. This can lead to developing decay and more.
- You need saliva in order to break down your food and swallow comfortably.
- You need saliva to taste your food.
- You need saliva to help limit bacteria, as mentioned, so your mouth remains neutral.
- You need saliva to help combat acidity from some foods and drinks that you eat!
Can I Just Drink More Water?
In some instances, yes, you may be able to fix your dry mouth problem by drinking more water. For some, there isn’t enough saliva present due to dehydration. When you drink more water, your body has enough moisture, and your mouth end up rehydrated as well, so drink up!
Should I Check My Medication?
Yes! It is very common to take a medicine that lists dry mouth as a side effect. If this is the case, you may need to speak with our team, your doctor, and you may need to be more mindful about drinking water.
Could I Just Be Congested?
You may just be congested or congestion may be contributing. Treat allergies and other respiratory problems to limit the chance of low saliva levels.
What If It Isn’t Going Away?
If you aren’t having success with making your dry mouth go away, come in for a dental checkup!
Address Dry Mouth With A Visit
If you find that you’re doing everything you can think of to combat dry mouth, so your oral moisture becomes balanced again, but your efforts aren’t paying off, don’t worry. We are here to help you with care! To learn more, call our family dental office in Upton, MA, today at 508-529-4591. We proudly welcome patients from all surrounding communities, including, Grafton, Hopedale, Whitinsville, and more.