blog-image1

Common Causes of Chronic Dry Mouth

January 20, 2016 4:42 am
Dry mouth is a recognized medical condition that has several possible sources. Saliva plays an important role in your mouth to help wash away food particles and bacteria. Reduced saliva production can cause chronic bad breath and increases the chances of developing tooth decay. There are several medications with dry mouth as a side effect. If you suspect your dry mouth issue is related to one or more medications, you should talk to your doctor about your options. In some instances, there are a few lifestyle choices and habits that can mitigate the problem. This includes sipping water frequently, chewing sugar-free gum or modifying your diet. Certain types of oral cancer and radiation treatments can cause a reduction in saliva production. In a situation like this the dry mouth issues might only be temporary or might require additional medical intervention. Regular tobacco and alcohol use can often cause dry mouth. Alcohol dehydrates you and dries out oral tissues. Tobacco use dries out gum tissues, while also introducing tar and other chemicals that impede saliva production. If you use alcohol or tobacco on a regular basis you should talk to your physician about a cessation or rehabilitation program. If you have questions or concerns about chronic dry mouth, please call us at 870-201-8863 to schedule an appointment.

Categorized in: