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Posted on 7/23/2019 by Dr. Michael Wockenfus |
 When your mouth is dry it becomes uncomfortable to speak or swallow. However, when it happens repeatedly, you probably have xerostomia. This can be very unhealthy for your teeth.Effects of XerostomiaWhether your dry mouth is caused by not re-hydrating properly, stress, a medical condition, or medication, left untreated it'll have a negative impact on your oral health. This is because your saliva isn't only responsible for aiding in the digestion of your food, but it's also responsible for washing bacteria and food particles away from your teeth and neutralizing any harmful acids it finds along the way. When your mouth doesn't have this natural defense mechanism at work for it, plaque and bacteria will quickly start building up at the base of your teeth. This will make you more susceptible to having bad breath, decaying teeth, and even gum disease. You also won't have any saliva available to help you remineralize your tooth enamel when it grows weak. Research by the ADA (American Dental Association) shows that when you have a dry mouth you also run the potential risk of developing oral candidiasis. This is a fungal infection that's more commonly referred to as thrush. Once you've suffered from this for a continued period of time, you'll feel like your mouth is burning. This can make it difficult for you to taste your food. Additionally, if you wear dentures it can become difficult, if not impossible, to continue to wear them. Call Us and Let Us HelpClearly you can see that you don't ever want to suffer from a dry mouth for a prolonged period of time. When you notice that you're suffering from a dry mouth, don't let it go untreated. Make sure you call our office and schedule an appointment so we can get to the root of this issue together. |
