Everyone experiences a dry mouth from time to time, especially after waking up, exercising, or not drinking enough water. But when your mouth regularly feels dry, sticky, or uncomfortable, it may be more than a temporary inconvenience.
Dry mouth, also called xerostomia, happens when your mouth does not have enough saliva to stay comfortably moist. Saliva plays an important role in protecting your teeth and gums, so ongoing dry mouth can affect your oral health in several ways.
Why Saliva Is So Important for Your Teeth
Saliva does much more than keep your mouth comfortable. It helps wash away food particles, neutralize acids, and protect tooth enamel. It also makes it easier to chew, swallow, taste, and speak.
When saliva production is reduced, bacteria and food debris can remain on the teeth longer. Acids are also not neutralized as effectively. As a result, people with persistent dry mouth may have a greater risk of cavities, tooth sensitivity, gum problems, and certain oral infections.
You may also notice bad breath, a dry or rough tongue, cracked lips, mouth sores, or difficulty swallowing dry foods.
What Causes Dry Mouth?
Many different things can contribute to dry mouth. Dehydration is a common temporary cause, but persistent symptoms are often associated with medications. Certain medications used for allergies, anxiety, depression, blood pressure, and other conditions can reduce saliva production.
Dry mouth may also be related to mouth breathing, tobacco or alcohol use, certain medical conditions, or treatments involving the head and neck. Because there are so many possible causes, ongoing symptoms should be discussed with your dentist or physician rather than simply ignored.
Drinking water throughout the day can help keep the mouth moist. Sugar-free gum may also encourage saliva production for some people. Good oral hygiene becomes especially important when saliva is reduced, including brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and cleaning between the teeth daily.
When Should You Talk to Your Dentist?
An occasional dry mouth is usually not a major concern. However, you should mention it to your dentist if the problem happens regularly, interferes with eating or sleeping, or is accompanied by increased cavities, burning sensations, sores, or persistent bad breath.
Your dentist can look for signs that dry mouth is affecting your teeth and gums and help identify ways to protect your oral health.
If you experience ongoing dry mouth, Song Dental in Lynnwood can evaluate your teeth and gums and discuss strategies for reducing your risk of tooth decay and other dental problems. Keeping your mouth comfortable is important, but protecting your teeth from the long-term effects of reduced saliva is just as important.
