Dry Mouth Can Cause Dental Problems in Lone Tree

A reduction of saliva flow resulting in a dry mouth is a common dilemma, especially among older people. At Almeida & Bell Dental, we can address your dry mouth issue.

Dry mouth is not only uncomfortable, but it can cause tooth damage. Saliva is necessary to keep the mouth lubricated, wash the food from teeth, and neutralize the acids that can cause plaque. Extensive tooth decay 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
Struggles chewing, speaking and swallowing
Changes in taste
Difficulty wearing dentures (Mayo Clinic)

Contributing conditions include medications and treatments, reduction in the body’s ability to metabolize medication, chronic health dilemmas, and poor nutrition.

For example, chemotherapy medication can reduce saliva production, and radiation treatments to the head and neck can damage salivary glands, decreasing saliva production.

Other medical ailments include diabetes, stroke, or yeast infection in the mouth.

Decongestants, blood pressure medications, antidepressants, and painkillers (all used extensively in Lone Tree) are some of the medications that can lead to dry mouth.

It is common for allergy-prone Almeida & Bell Dental Cosmetic, Implant & Sedation Dentistry in Lone Tree 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 suffer from dry mouth, it’s critical to pay special attention to your dental health. The first step is to talk to a professional. Call Almeida & Bell Dental Cosmetic, Implant & Sedation Dentistry in Lone Tree to schedule an appointment with Drs. Adam Almeida.