A dry mouth can feel uncomfortable and sticky, making it difficult to eat and talk comfortably, but it can also damage your dental health. Common side effects include bad breath, difficulty swallowing, and an increased risk of cavities and gum disease. When your mouth feels drier, harmful bacteria can thrive in these conditions. Saliva is important for keeping your mouth clean and fresh, washing away excess bacteria and loose food particles.
There are many reasons why people develop dry mouth, a condition called xerostomia. Sometimes dry mouth is due to underlying medical conditions, is a side-effect of over-the-counter and prescription medications, or is a result of ageing. Regardless of what is causing your dry mouth in Whitby, you can take some simple steps to keep your mouth moister, cleaner and fresher.
Artificial Saliva Sprays
You can purchase over-the-counter saliva substitutes or ask us for advice on which brand to choose when visiting Margolian Dentistry. If necessary, we may be able to prescribe something more appropriate for your needs. These saliva substitutes are often in the form of a mouth spray, so they are quick and convenient to use and can help to immediately freshen your breath and ensure your mouth feels moister and more comfortable. A saliva substitute can also help you maintain a healthier pH balance in the mouth.
Chew Sugar-Free Candies or Gum
Chewing sugar-free candies or chewing gum helps stimulate your saliva glands, so you make more saliva. However, it’s worth approaching this solution with caution. You need to make sure the candies are entirely sugar-free. Also, sucking on sugar-free mints can change your mouth’s pH levels, creating a more acidic environment and increasing the risk of cavities.
Sip on Water
Sometimes xerostomia is simply due to dehydration, and trying to sip frequently on water can decrease the symptoms. Water is the best way to rehydrate, and even if this isn’t enough to combat the symptoms of dry mouth entirely, it certainly won’t hurt your dental or overall health.
Choose Foods and Beverages Carefully
Certain foods and beverages can exacerbate the symptoms of dry mouth in Oshawa. Offenders include coffee, alcohol, soda and very spicy or salty foods. Eating foods with high water content, such as fruits and vegetables, can be useful, and if you have something likely to dry out your mouth, make a point of swishing your mouth with water afterwards.
Using an Oral Rinse for Dry Mouth
Some people find it useful to incorporate an oral rinse into their oral care routine as several available are specially formulated to deal with this problem. If you do want to use a mouth rinse, check it doesn’t contain alcohol that could dry out your mouth and worsen the symptoms. If in doubt, please ask us for help and advice.
Preventive Dentistry
We can help people with dry mouth maintain oral health more easily by devising a good preventive dentistry treatment plan in Ajax. When you visit our practice, we can examine your mouth for signs of xerostomia, discuss why it has developed, and recommend suitable ways to control the potential impact on oral health through preventive dentistry. For example, we might suggest more frequent hygiene appointments because getting rid of plaque and tartar buildup that contains harmful bacteria helps reduce the risk of tooth decay and gum disease risk. Regular dental examinations help us detect any changes to your oral health, so if you have signs of oral disease, we can address them quickly.
Sometimes it can be useful to visit your GP if dry mouth is caused by prescription medications, in case they can adjust your dosage or recommend a different medication. Please note you should never stop taking prescription medication without discussing it with your GP first.