Dentistry in Peoria shares the symptoms & causes of dry mouth

Here is some dental trivia to share with your friends; Xerostomia is the condition where your mouth does not produce enough saliva. Simply put, it is called ‘Dry mouth,’ but there is nothing trivial about the condition. Saliva is so important towards proper digestion of foods and cleansing the teeth and gums of the acids that breed bacterial plaque that brings the ‘shudder’ tooth decay! 

The Symptoms 

The symptoms of Dry mouth are, quite obviously, frequent thirst and dry feeling in throat. Other symptoms that can appear: bad breath, hoarseness and dry nasal passages, sore throat, difficulty in tasting, chewing, and swallowing, a dry red raw tongue, burning and tingling sensation; mouth or tongue, sores or split skin at corners of mouth and cracked lips. These symptoms, left unchecked, can lead to the larger dental problems such as Gingivitis, tooth decay, and a mouth infection known as Thrush. Dry mouth is a serious condition and ‘nothing to spit at.’ (Pardon the pun to lighten the moment while driving home the point.)

The Causes 

Causes for Dry mouth are many including: high fever, excessive sweating, vomiting, gastric upset, blood loss, and burns all of which brings Xerostomia (dry mouth). If there was any injury to the head and neck which produced nerve damage Dry mouth can result. Certain chronic medical conditions can give a person a Dry mouth: Diabetes, Cystic Fibrosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Stroke, Mumps, Alzheimer’s disease, Anemia, HIV / AIDs, Parkinson’s Disease, Stroke, and Sjogren’s Syndrome. Medications, prescription or over-the-counter can give a person Dry mouth.

There is professional help available and you should discuss the feeling with your dentist.  He or she may prescribe an oral rinse that restores mouth moisture or a med that boosts saliva production.  You can do such simple things as drinking lots of water, chew sugarless gum or candy, use a room vaporizer to moisten the air in bedroom at night.

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