Dry Mouth and Chronic Illness
by Smart MouthNearly everyone has experienced a dry mouth at some point in their lives. For many, the solution is as easy as a quick drink of water, but for others it’s a chronic issues, or the result of other health challenges. Dry mouth, or xerostomia occurs when the body’s salivary glands do not produce enough saliva to keep the mouth moist. This can make chewing, swallowing, tasting, and even talking difficult.
Saliva helps keep the growth of bacteria at bay. Without enough saliva to maintain a balance, this bacteria can cause mouth infections and sores, as well as a variety of dental issues. In addition to maintaining a balance with bacteria, saliva also washes away food particles left in the mouth after eating. Without enough saliva, food particles and acids can cause gum disease and tooth decay and can cause issues for denture wearers.
What causes dry mouth?
There are many factors that can cause dry mouth. Prescriptions and medications, infections and dehydration are all potential contributors. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy also cause dry mouth by damaging salivary glands.
It can take more than 6 months after radiation therapy ends for the salivary glands to begin producing saliva again, and while dry mouth can improve over the course of the first year post treatment, many face long-term dry mouth.
Other causes of dry mouth include:
- Dehydration
- Mouth infections
- Antidepressants
- Diuretics
- Antiemetics
- Pain medications
How can you manage and improve dry mouth?
Maintain good oral hygiene. Brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste after each meal and at bedtime for two minutes and floss gently at least once per day.
Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Close to 60% of your body is composed of water. Not only does this help produce saliva, but aids in digestion, circulation, maintenance of body temperature and more.
Consult your dental professional. Talk to your dentist. They can help determine what’s causing dry mouth and help develop a better maintenance plan or even prescribe medicated rinses to help manage the issue.
Avoid dental products that contain alcohol. Mouthwashes and other dental products often contain alcohol, which can make dry mouth worse.
Use SmartMouth Dry Mouth Activated Oral Rinse. Our activated oral rinse utilizes patented zinc ion technology to provide relief from the symptoms and discomfort of dry mouth. SmartMouth’s Dry Mouth Activated Oral Rinse works smarter than other dry mouth oral rinses because there’s no alcohol, and while it’s clinical strength, no prescription is required.
Connect with us to learn more about how SmartMouth can help you manage dry mouth and face the world with confidence.