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Having the ongoing feeling that your mouth is parched and dry is more than uncomfortable. It can mean there are some underlying issues causing it, as well as some negative impacts on your health that can result from a chronic dry mouth. Let’s learn about why it’s so important to maintain a good production of saliva, and what to do if your levels are too low.
Importance of saliva
You may be surprised at all the roles that saliva plays in your system. The enzymes in saliva help break down your food to begin the digestion process. It lubricates and protects your teeth and mouth tissues. Also, saliva helps break down and move along trapped food in your mouth, therefore protecting your teeth from the bacteria in the particles that can lead to decay. Without the proper amount of saliva, your risk of infections, tooth decay, and gum disease all increase.
Causes
While dry mouth can be linked to diseases such as diabetes, it can also be a side effect of prescription medication. There are over 400 medicines that are known to trigger dry mouth. Other common causes of dry mouth are anxiety, trauma to the salivary glands, alcohol consumption, mouth breathing, radiation therapy, and dehydration from lack of fluids.
Symptoms
Here are some signs that may point to chronic dry mouth:
- Lack of saliva accumulation in the floor of your mouth
- Dry, cracked lips or tongue
- Overly thick saliva
- Thirsty often
- Food sticking to your teeth
- Bleeding or cracked oral mucosa
Treatment
If your dry mouth is linked to medication, talk with your doctor about alternatives. Other treatment involved drinking water often, careful oral hygiene, trying sugarless candy or gum, using a room vaporizer to increase air moisture, and using saliva substitutes from your drugstore.
