{"id":482,"date":"2023-03-17T07:24:24","date_gmt":"2023-03-17T07:24:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drgaryb.com\/?p=482"},"modified":"2024-01-17T07:27:40","modified_gmt":"2024-01-17T07:27:40","slug":"dry-mouth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drgaryb.com\/dry-mouth\/","title":{"rendered":"Dry Mouth"},"content":{"rendered":"
Dry mouth, or xerostomia, occurs when the salivary glands can\u2019t produce enough saliva to maintain a healthy oral environment.<\/p>\n
Saliva helps us swallow, speak, taste, and digest. If you have a dry mouth, you can experience symptoms such as:<\/p>\n
Anyone can experience dry mouth on occasion, but persistent symptoms should be evaluated by your dentist or doctor.<\/p>\n
Dry mouth causes more than physical discomfort; it can also impact your oral health.<\/p>\n
Saliva helps protect teeth from decay. Saliva helps neutralize the acidic foods we eat, washes away food particles and bacteria, and contains minerals like calcium and phosphorus which remineralize tooth enamel preventing weak spots from becoming cavities.<\/p>\n
Reduced saliva production does more than make teeth more vulnerable to decay. In the short-term, xerostomia causes bad breath and denture discomfort. Over time, dry mouth can lead to gum disease, mouth ulcers, oral thrush, sores, and infections.<\/p>\n
Your dentist or doctor can help you discover the reason you\u2019re experiencing dry mouth with a thorough examination and a dental and medical history. Possible causes for xerostomia include:<\/p>\n
What can you do to reduce the symptoms of dry mouth and\/or improve saliva production?<\/p>\n