We all experience dry mouth occasionally. Whether it’s caused by nervousness before a speech or the result of not drinking enough water, infrequent bouts of mouth dryness are generally just minor inconveniences. For other folks, this is a chronic condition that has far-reaching effects on your oral health. Read on to learn about a few ways dry mouth can negatively affect your oral health.

Negative Effects of Dry Mouth

In a normal mouth, saliva has an extremely important role that is often behind the scenes. It helps rinse away leftover food particles from teeth before bacteria have a chance to feed on them, and helps your enamel re-harden and remineralize by depositing fluoride, calcium, and phosphate. When saliva production is reduced or interrupted, this puts your mouth at risk for tooth decay, cavities, bad breath, and sensitivity. Prolonged dry mouth can also lead to uncomfortable sores and cracked skin in your mouth.

Treatment

In general, we always advise upping your water intake in case your dryness is a result of dehydration. If you smoke or chew tobacco, quit ASAP. And if you drink excessive alcohol, cut back. These habits dry out your mouth. For severe dryness, Dr. Ward often recommends a mouthwash specially formulated to combat mouth dryness or prescribes a mouth spray that can lubricate your mouth like saliva to help your mouth from getting irritated.

Underlying Conditions

Oftentimes, dry mouth can be a side effect of a certain medication, but sometimes it is a sign that you have an underlying condition that needs diagnosis and treatment. Certain autoimmune disorders, such as Sjögren’s syndrome, cause dry mouth. Additionally, mouth sores could be from dryness or something like systemic lupus erythematosus or oral cancer.

We Are Here to Help!

If you believe you may be experiencing dry mouth, let us know. We will examine your oral health, talk about any possible contributing factors, and come up with a treatment plan to help restore saliva production and ensure that your condition doesn’t worsen. We will also keep an eye out for any red flags that indicate your mouth dryness is due to a serious condition requiring medical attention. Your oral health is our priority–get in touch with our Louisville office today.