Do you suffer from a dry mouth?

A lot of our patients suffer from some dryness of the mouth. 

This is caused by inadequate production or flow of saliva. For some people, this is just a nuisance, but at the more severe end it can lead to health problems. Tooth decay, gum disease, yeast infections, bad breath and difficulty swallowing can result from a chronically dry mouth. It can also make the wearing of dentures very uncomfortable.

Reduced saliva flow can be caused by several diseases and is sometimes a result of radiotherapy to the head and neck. However, by far the most common cause is medication. Antihistamines, painkillers, decongestants and drugs used to treat high blood pressure and depression are common culprits.

Simple things you can do to get relief include:

• Taking frequent sips of water
• Using alcohol-free oral rinses
• Avoid caffeine, alcohol and carbonated drinks as far as possible
• Sugar-free chewing gum
• Special dry mouth toothpastes and gels such as Biotene (available at Mapplewell Dental Centre)
• You may also benefit from the use of high fluoride toothpastes and oral rinses.

If you suffer from a dry mouth, please remember to mention it to us so we can try to identify possible causes and give you appropriate advice.