A decrease in saliva flow resulting in a dry mouth is a common dilemma, especially among older individuals. At Delta Bay Dental Group, we can help!
Dry mouth is not only uncomfortable, but it can cause tooth damage. Saliva is needed to keep the mouth lubricated, wash the food from teeth, and neutralize the acids that can cause plaque. Extensive cavities can arise in the absence of saliva for dental patients with chronic dry mouth.
Symptoms of dry mouth include:
- Dry, red, or grooved tongue
- Persistent sore throat or hoarseness
- Sticky feeling in the mouth
- Saliva that seems thick and stringy
- Bad breath
- Difficulty chewing, speaking, and swallowing
- Changes in taste
- Difficulty wearing dentures (Mayo Clinic)
Contributing factors include medications and treatments, reduction in the body’s ability to metabolize medication, chronic health dilemmas, and poor nutrition.
For example, chemotherapy medication can lower saliva production, and radiation treatments to the head and neck can damage salivary glands, decreasing saliva production.
Other medical conditions include diabetes, stroke, or yeast infection in the mouth.
Decongestants, blood pressure medications, antidepressants, and painkillers (all used extensively in Brentwood) are some of the medications that can bring about dry mouth.
It is common for allergy-prone Delta Bay Dental Group dental patients to complain of dry mouth when they start taking antihistamines during the hay fever season.
The following can also contribute to dry mouth:
- Snoring or breathing through the mouth
- Drinking alcohol
- Tobacco use (cigarettes, e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco)
- Recreational drugs
If you experience dry mouth, it’s critical to pay special attention to your dental health. The first step is to talk to a professional. Call Delta Bay Dental Group to schedule an appointment with Doctor Tane Rontal.
Contact Delta Bay Dental Group:
925-516 -8886
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
8640 Brentwood Blvd, Ste B
Brentwood, California
94513
