WHY IS DRY MOUTH DANGEROUS FOR SHREWSBURY DENTAL PATIENTS?

Hello, welcome to the Southern York Smile Care blog. Today we are going to talk about dry mouth, an unpleasant condition that impacts your oral health.

Reduction of saliva flow resulting in a dry mouth is more common among older adults; however, people of all ages experience the symptoms of dry mouth at one time or another. These include a dry, red tongue, difficulty swallowing, and persistent sore throat.

Sometimes dry mouth is caused by a disease or infection, but a more frequent cause of dry mouth is prescription medications.

Decongestants, blood pressure medications, antidepressants, and painkillers are just some of the drugs that list ‘dry mouth’ as a common side effect.

It is common for allergy-prone Southern York Smile Care dental patients to complain of dry mouth when they start taking antihistamines during hay fever season.

Aside from being an uncomfortable nuisance, untreated dry mouth can cause tooth damage. Adequate saliva is required to keep the mouth lubricated, wash the food from teeth, and neutralize the acidic environment caused by plaque. Extensive dental caries can occur in the absence of saliva for dental patients with chronic dry mouth.

If you are unsure of the cause of your dry mouth, or if you are looking for dry mouth treatments, call Southern York Smile Care to schedule an appointment with Dr. Steven W. Haywood.