Categories: General Dentist

How a General Dentist Can Help With Dry Mouth

Dry mouth is a condition that can be treated by a general dentist and is also known as xerostomia. When the salivary glands do not make adequate saliva to keep the mouth wet, the symptoms of dry mouth often show up. These can be caused by a variety of things, some as simple as medication and others as complicated as a specific medical condition.

The mouth makes saliva to do several things, including the following:

  • Enhance taste
  • Make it easier to swallow and chew
  • Aid in digestion
  • Neutralize acids that come from bacteria
  • Wash away food particles
  • Limit bacterial growth

If the salivary glands are not functioning correctly, it can cause problems with your gums and teeth. You may also notice that you do not enjoy food as much as you used to. Dry mouth can also cause problems with your overall health. Fortunately, there are many things a general dentist can do to treat this condition and improve your life.

Treating dry mouth

In-office treatments

When you have dry mouth, a dentist can use several treatments. They may prescribe a fluoride treatment to use at home and administer topical fluoride treatments in the office. They may also encourage you to use xylitol gum or antifungal or antibacterial mouthwashes. In some cases, it may be necessary to perform X-rays regularly to keep an eye on dental decay.

Home treatments

There are also things you can do at home to reduce the discomfort from dry mouth, such as the following:

  • Regularly sip water throughout the day
  • Stop using tobacco or smoking
  • Decrease the amount of caffeine you drink each day
  • Avoid mouthwash that contains alcohol
  • Breathe through your nose rather than your mouth whenever possible
  • Use a room humidifier at night to add moisture
  • Avoid over-the-counter decongestants and antihistamines
  • Chew sugar-free gum

You can also avoid acidic or sugary food and drinks to prevent tooth decay. If you have tried all these steps and none seem to work, it is likely time to call a general dentist. They can provide a more in-depth analysis and treatment plan for the problem.

Causes of dry mouth

There are some things you can change to improve your condition and others that are simply out of your control. Dry mouth can be caused by medical conditions such as HIV/AIDS, diabetes, depression, Alzheimer’s, alcoholic cirrhosis and uncontrolled high blood pressure. Medications can also lead to dry mouth, and you may also have a salivary gland infection or generalized dehydration. A dentist can help you to determine what is causing your dry mouth and how to go about treating it.

Symptoms of dry mouth

You may have dry mouth if your mouth feels dry and sticky in the morning, you have difficulty speaking or swallowing, your mouth burns or your throat feels dry. If you have a hard time swallowing food or notice your tongue is a darker red color, you may have dry mouth. If you also take one or more prescription medications combined with these symptoms, it is likely dry mouth.

Conclusion

A dental professional can help to alleviate the pain and discomfort that comes from dry mouth. You do not need to live an uncomfortable life. A visit to the dentist is a good place to start dealing with the issue.

Are you considering a general dentist in the Everett area? Get more information at https://gkdentaloffice.com.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: General Dentist.

Recent Posts

How To Prepare For A General Dentistry Visit

Visiting the dentist can be an anxiety-inducing event for many people. The biggest reason for this is that general dentistry appointments are often associated with painful procedures and a perceived loss of control as you lay back and let the dentist and dental assistant perform their duties. It might also be possible that you are…

General Dentistry: When Should You Bring Your Child To See A Dentist?

When it comes to general dentistry practices, these offices typically include primary care dental providers. A general dentist focuses on diagnosing dental problems, treating dental issues, and overall oral health care. General dentists may provide gum care, teeth cleaning, root canals, veneers, bridges, and preventative dentistry. However, just as there are dentists that focus on…

General Dentistry Tips For Dealing With A Loose Tooth

A loose tooth is not something that anyone wants to deal with as an adult. Thankfully, general dentists are trained and equipped to know what to do when a patient experiences a loosened tooth. Adult teeth can become loose as a result of an infection in the oral cavity. More often than not, this is due…

Get A Broken Tooth Treated To Avoid Complications

Fixing a broken tooth right away is important. This dental damage may seem like nothing more than a cosmetic problem, but it can lead to terrible consequences. Seeing a dentist sooner rather than later can provide immediate relief. If you want to find out the treatments for a broken tooth and its complications, here are…

GK Dental PC

Share
Published by
GK Dental PC

Recent Posts

How Do I Know If I Need Dental Implants?

Dental implants are small, titanium screws placed into the jawbone where a tooth was removed.…

3 days ago

Cosmetic Dental Services: Options for Whiter Teeth

Many people look to cosmetic dental services when they want a whiter smile. Though teeth…

3 days ago

How Best to Care for Your Teeth After Dental Bonding

If you have small defects in your front teeth, dental bonding is a great choice…

7 days ago

What Are the Different Types of Dental Implants?

Dental implants are artificial roots that a dentist surgically places into the jawbone. The prosthetic…

2 weeks ago

7 Common Cosmetic Dental Services

Wondering what cosmetic dental services are available these days? Read on to explore some procedures…

2 weeks ago

What to Ask Your Dentist About Partial Dentures

Partial dentures require good aftercare through proper oral hygiene practices and regular dental visits to…

2 weeks ago