Dry Mouth
Dry mouth occurs when your mouth cannot produce enough saliva. This condition causes parched or dry feeling in your mouth. Other symptoms include bad breath, dry throat and cracked lips. To maintain good dental health you body must produce enough saliva, it not only helps break down food but also works to protect your gum and teeth from gum disease and tooth decay. While dry mouth isn’t a serious medical condition it can be a symptom of a much larger medical problem which can then lead to tooth decays.
What causes dry mouth?
The most common cause of dry mouth is dehydration. However there are other conditions that can affect saliva production such as,
- stress
- anxiety
- smoking tobacco
- using marijuana
- taking tranquilizers
- breathing through your mouth
- taking certain medications, including some antihistamines, antidepressants, and appetite suppressants
- undergoing radiation therapy on your head or neck
- some autoimmune disorders, such as Sjögren’s syndrome
- botulism poisoning
- aging
Some tips to treat dry mouth
In most cases dry mouth can be prevented or relieve symptoms by doing these home remedies.
- sipping water often
- sucking on ice cubes
- avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco
- limiting your salt and sugar intake
- using a humidifier in your bedroom when you sleep
- taking over-the-counter saliva substitutes
- chewing sugarless gum or sucking on sugarless hard candy
- using over-the-counter toothpastes, rinses, and mints
If none of these home treatments work, visit your dentist or doctor and they might be able to prescribe you medications to help.
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