What Is Dry Mouth?
Does your mouth ever feel extremely dry or like it’s full of cotton when you wake up in the morning? If so, you are experiencing dry mouth. This condition occurs when there is too little saliva in the mouth. Continual issues with dry mouth can be problematic because saliva is necessary to help rinse away lingering food and bacteria. When bacteria lingers on and between the teeth as well as along the gumline, it will lead to problems such as gum disease and tooth decay.
What Causes Dry Mouth?
One of the biggest causes of dry mouth is medication. Over-the-counter and prescription medications can both have dry mouth as a side effect. Be sure to look at the information that came with your medication to see if dry mouth is listed as a side effect. Mouth breathing is another common cause of dry mouth. Mouth breathing cannot always be avoided, especially when sick with a cold or experiencing bad allergies. If you are a mouth breather, it is important to try your best to breathe through your nose. Smoking is another common cause of dry mouth. It can have a significant impact on the amount of saliva that is produced.
Ways to Help Dry Mouth
It is extremely important to tell us at your next visit to the office if you have been experiencing issues with dry mouth. If you are not currently experiencing complications from dry mouth, we can monitor your oral health and may recommend you visit us again between appointments. We recommend increasing your water intake if you regularly experience dry mouth. Other ways to help dry mouth include:
- Using a humidifier when sleeping
- Chewing sugarless gum
- Avoiding caffeine and alcohol
- Drinking more water with meals
- Breathing through your nose and not your mouth
If you are in Wellington, FL or the surrounding area and regularly experience dry mouth or need a hygiene examination appointment, be sure to contact our office to schedule an appointment.