Issues with Having a Dry Mouth
You need saliva in your mouth to guard you from infections. When your mouth is too dry, it invites harmful cultures of bacteria and fungi to thrive in your teeth and gums and cause tooth rot and gingivitis.
It is for this reason that our Lynnwood dentist wants you to be on the lookout for dry mouth, and be mindful of anything that contributes to this condition.
- Any kind of smoking can cause dry mouth.
- Chewing tobacco can dry out your mouth.
- When you breathe from your mouth, you’re venting moisture faster than it can be replaced. Excessive mouth-breathing generally leads to dry mouth.
- A lot of diseases, including AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, anemia, hypertension, mumps, rheumatoid arthritis, and strokes, cause dry mouth.
- Many medications list dry mouth as a side effect. Check your medications for such side effects.
- Certain medical treatments, like chemotherapy, can cause damage to your salivary glands and impair their ability to produce saliva.
- If you suffer an injury that damages your nerves in your head or neck area, it may inhibit your salivary glands.
- When you become dehydrated, your body is likely to cut down on saliva production in favor of more vital functions. Be sure to drink enough water.
