Thirsty? A Guide to Dry Mouth
This condition might be a bit hard to swallow
Most people don’t think twice about producing saliva as it just happens. The Emergency Dentist Sydney knows this isn’t the case for people that suffer from dry mouth, otherwise known as xerostomia. Dry mouth causes discomfort due to a lack of saliva and can affect teeth and gums as well as quality of life.
This condition might be a bit hard to swallow
Most people don’t think twice about producing saliva as it just happens. The Emergency Dentist Sydney knows this isn’t the case for people that suffer from dry mouth, otherwise known as xerostomia. Dry mouth causes discomfort due to a lack of saliva and can affect teeth and gums as well as quality of life.
What is dry mouth and why do I have it?
Dry mouth is due to a lack of saliva being produced in the mouth and can occur for a variety of reasons, such as nerves, stress, sadness. It can also be linked to certain medications you may be taking or a sign of a more serious condition.
Saliva does more than just keep your mouth moist. It assists with the digestion of food, breaking down bacteria and is needed to chew properly and swallow.
Potential reasons that could lead to your dry mouth and lack of saliva include:
Those who smoke cigarettes or vapes tend to experience dry mouth more so than people who don’t.
Many medications list dry mouth as a side effect. Some of these include antihistamines, antidepressants, pain killers and blood pressure medication.
Some medical conditions may lead to dry mouth such as diabetes, cancer, Parkinson's and HIV/AIDS to name a few.
Radiation and chemotherapy may cause loss of saliva or a change in saliva texture during cancer treatment.
Menopause is known to affect the salivary glands.
Some signs that you may have dry mouth
Everyone is likely to experience some form of mouth dryness which generally goes away however, the following symptoms may not disappear which would indicate you have a dry mouth condition which requires treatment. These symptoms include:
Difficulty chewing and swallowing
Bad breath
A sticky, tacky feeling in the mouth
Dryness down to the throat
Tingling or burning sensation on the tongue
Chapped or cracked lips
Decreased sense of taste
Metallic taste in your mouth
Mouth sores/ulcers
Difficulty speaking
Can my dry mouth be treated?
Generally, your dry mouth can be treated but first you must identify the cause of it. There are also a few things you can do that may restore moisture in the mouth, even if it’s just to give you temporary relief – some remedies may include:
Drink water or sugarless drinks often – drinks that contain sugar could make your dry mouth worse.
Avoid caffeine (coffee and tea) as these can cause the mouth to dry out.
Chew sugarless gum or mints as this can stimulate the production of saliva.
Try and cut out smoking and alcohol completely.
Re-evaluate your diet to lessen the intake of spicy or salty and fried foods.
Try a humidifier when sleeping.
Gargle a mouthwash that is designed to help with dry mouth.
If you suspect medication is the cause, always discuss this with your GP as they may be able to offer alternatives.
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The Effects of Alcohol Abuse on Your Oral Health
Indulging in a few too many alcoholic 'refreshers' can leave you with more than just a banging headache the next day...
Be Aware of The Impact
Some might say hot, sunny Sydney days - and nights - and a cold beer were made for each other, especially if you happen to be out with your mates. And as we have no less than fourteen separate wine regions in NSW, a trip out to a vineyard for a tasting is a tempting way to spend a summer's day too. But did you know that indulging in a few too many alcoholic 'refreshers' can leave you with more than just a banging headache the next day, it can also be very bad for your oral health?
Alcohol and Oral Health - Worst Case Scenarios
A number of research studies conducted all over the world have indicated that those who drink alcohol on a regular basis may be up to six times more likely to develop oral cancers than those who do not. Alcohol abuse is also the cause of a number of oral related accidents - chipped teeth, broken teeth, lost teeth, that kind of thing - because, well, drunk people do tend to fall down far more often than others and they can often get a bit fighty too.
Gum disease is another potentially nasty problem that alcohol abuse can lead too, as is tooth decay. The major reason for this is all of the fermented sugars that alcohol contains coupled with fact that alcohol is actually very dehydrating (no matter how refreshing that cold one seems to be) which leads to a very dry mouth. The perfect 'conditions' for the development of both tooth decay and gum disease.
Drinking Responsibly - for Your Teeth
So, are we suggesting that you spend every single summer's day sipping on a oft drink while all around you crack open a celebratory can of beer? Not necessarily, but we are suggesting you drink in a way that is a lot kinder to your teeth and gums. What's the best way to do that? Here's some pointers:
Drink in moderation This really should be a general rule of thumb anyway. Not only is binge drinking or excessive alcohol consumption bad for your oral and general health is there really much point in spending a fortune on booze when you go out if you get so drunk you won't remember anything the next day?
Watch the Sugar Content of What You Drink People tend to forget just how much sugar there is in alcoholic beverages. And in many cases there's a lot, both in beer and in wine and mixed drinks and cocktails can be even worse. Not only is too much sugar bad for your teeth in general if you are drinking all night it's going to be sitting on your teeth getting ready to do some damage.
To help alleviate the problem alternate every drink with one of water (which helps you drink less anyway) as doing so will keep you better hydrated and help prevent dry mouth while also 'washing away' some of that sugary film on your teeth.
Never Go to Bed Without Cleaning Your Teeth No matter how tired you are when you get in after a night out you should never skip cleaning your teeth, especially if you are fond of highly coloured drinks - red wine, those frothy multi-coloured cocktails - that can also stain your teeth easily.
The #EmergencyDentist Says:
Alcohol and teeth are well-known adversaries, especially during the very social Sydney summer season. However, with a little extra care and attention it's OK to indulge once in a while, just don't make a big habit of it.
Patient Care First
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