Prevent Dry Mouth To Protect Your Oral Health

There are ways to protect against dry mouth.

Whether you are prone to dry mouth or you simply want to protect against it, our Charlotte, NC, dentist Dr. Benjamin Massey can certainly provide you with helpful strategies and tips to keep your smile healthy. After all, saliva can help to remove plaque, bacteria, and food particles, keeping teeth cleaner and healthier.

Why does dry mouth happen?

Dry mouth occurs when your mouth doesn’t produce enough saliva and may be the result of an underlying health problem, which is why you should also have persistent dry mouth checked out by our Charlottes, NC, dental team. Common causes of dry mouth include,

• Dehydration
• Side effects of certain medications
• Certain health problems such as diabetes or autoimmune disorders
• Radiation therapy
• Smoking
• Alcohol consumption
• Anxiety
• Mouth breathing
• Aging

How can I prevent dry mouth?

There are certain lifestyle changes and home remedies you can try to see if that helps clear up your dry mouth. Some of these home remedies and lifestyle modifications include,

Drinking enough water each day: Most Americans aren’t drinking nearly enough water so your dry mouth could be caused by dehydration.

Limit alcohol and caffeine: Caffeinated drinks such as coffee and tea, as well as alcohol, dehydrate and can contribute to or exacerbate dry mouth.

Chew sugarless gum: One way to activate salivary production is to chew sugar-free gum, which may provide temporary relief from your dry mouth.

Improve oral care: Dry mouth may also be the result of poor hygiene, so it’s important that you brush twice a day and floss every day to keep your mouth healthy.

Avoid alcohol-containing mouthwash: It’s best to avoid mouthwashes containing alcohol or peroxide, as these ingredients can lead to further dryness.

You should also take a look at your current medications and discuss them with our Charlotte, NC, family dentist. Sometimes dry mouth can be a side effect of certain medications such as antihistamines, antidepressants, and high blood pressure. Talk with our team about your medications to find out if this could be the culprit. In some cases, our dentist Dr. Massey may need to prescribe a medication designed to promote salivary production to improve dry mouth symptoms.

If you are dealing with dry mouth that isn’t getting better with these tips, it’s a good time to turn to our Charlotte, NC, family dentist Dr. Massey to find out what’s going on and how we can help. Call Massey Family Dentistry at (704) 366-2568 to schedule an appointment.