Your mouth is supposed to be a wet place. Saliva, the substance that keeps your mouth moist has an important role in your dental health, as well as your overall health. Medications that you take can disrupt saliva production, leading to a dry mouth.
A dry mouth increases your chance to develop cavities.
The mouth of a healthy human is washed with over four cups of saliva every day.1 Saliva aids in chewing and swallowing because it has a digestive enzyme, called amylase, which helps to break down food down in your mouth as the first step in the digestive process.
In fact, while saliva is mostly water – about 99 percent — it also contains electrolytes, minerals, enzymes and proteins which contribute to strong teeth and a healthy oral cavity.2 All the water in your saliva is designed to wash your mouth after you eat, essentially acting as a car wash to remove food particles and carbohydrates that stick to teeth and can cause cavities.
One of saliva’s biggest jobs is to keep bacteria in the oral cavity in check by maintaining a healthy pH level and essentially neutralizing acids. When you sleep your body doesn’t produce as much saliva and your mouth dries out a bit allowing bacteria to flourish. It is a dry mouth that contributes to bad breath when you first wake up.
A lot of medications interfere with the normal production of saliva. In fact, medications are the leading cause of dry mouth — a persistent condition called xerostomia.3 There are over 500 medications, both prescription and over-the-counter medications, that can cause dry mouth according to reports from the American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs.4
The list includes the following common prescriptions and over the counter medications: antihistamines, decongestants, pain killers, diuretics, high blood pressure medications, Parkinson’s disease medications, antidepressants and other medications. 5To determine if your medication is known to cause dry mouth, read the list of side effects on the label or consult your physician or a pharmacist.
If you experience dry mouth it is very important that you not stop taking any prescription medication without first consulting with your doctor. There are some things you can do to combat dry mouth.
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- Stay hydrated by frequently drinking water.
- Use an over-the-counter oral rinse for dry mouth. Biotene Dry Mouth Oral Rinse has received the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance for dry mouth relief.
- Avoid using mouthwashes that contain alcohol. There are mouthwashes specifically formulated to aid dry mouth sufferers.
- Chew sugar-free gum. There are a number of sugar-free gums which have received the ADA Seal of Acceptance, including Bazooka Sugar Free Bubble Gum.6
- Reduce the amount of caffeine you drink, as caffeinated products, like coffee and many soft drinks and energy drinks, have been found in research studies to cause dry mouth.
- Reduce the amount of sugar in your diet, as sugar, especially in beverages, has also been found to contribute to dry mouth.7
Your dentist should also be consulted if you are experiencing dry mouth. Together you can develop a plan to alleviate your dry mouth and improve your oral health. Because dry mouth can lead to cavities and other oral health issues, it is important to see your dentist regularly.
Keeping a healthy mouth for life requires proper oral health practices as well as regular dental visits and Sedki Dentistry in Commerce Twp can help. Our dental practice addresses all oral health concerns and Dr Sedki has more than 20 years of experience in general and cosmetic dentistry as well as dental treatments and the latest technology in dental restoration.
Call to set up a Free dental consultation and how to get a healthy smile and mouth for life!
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1,2 What Are the Major Functions of Saliva? by Dr. Samir Alaswad, 5/26/2020
3 Understanding Dry Mouth
Link: https://www.biotene.com/dry-mouth-health-impacts/understanding-dry-mouth/
4 Is Your Mouth Always Dry?, by Anita M. Mark, 10/9/2020
Link: https://jada.ada.org/article/S0002-8177(20)30599-7/fulltext#back-bib1
5 Prescription Medications and Dry Mouth
Link: https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/dry-mouth/prescription-medications-and-dry-mouth
6 Sugar Free Chewing Gums
Link: https://www.ada.org/resources/research/science-and-research-institute/ada-seal-of-acceptance/product-search#sort=%40productname%20ascending&f:@category=[Sugar%20Free%20Chewing%20Gums]
7 How to Treat Dry Mouth at Home by Adrian White, 3/7/2019
Link: https://www.healthline.com/health/dry-mouth-remedies#remedies