Dry Mouth Concerns

Dry Mouth Solutions in Greer, SC

Saliva plays a crucial role in keeping the mouth moist, clean and helping with food digestion. This natural dental fluid also controls bacteria and fungi in the mouth, thereby preventing mouth infection. If you don’t produce sufficient saliva, your mouth will grow dry and uncomfortable. This will give occasion for bacterial infection and dental decay, among other side effects. Fortunately, there are preventative measures you can take and treatment options to help deal with dry mouth, known as xerostomia in dental terms.

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Dry Mouth Causes

Dry Mouth Solutions
in Greer, SC

Saliva plays a crucial role in keeping the mouth moist, clean and helping with food digestion. This natural dental fluid also controls bacteria and fungi in the mouth, thereby preventing mouth infection. If you don’t produce sufficient saliva, your mouth will grow dry and uncomfortable. This will give occasion for bacterial infection and dental decay, among other side effects. Fortunately, there are preventative measures you can take and treatment options to help deal with dry mouth, known as xerostomia in dental terms.

Schedule an Appointment

What Causes Dry Mouth?

When there is not enough saliva in the mouth, it can lead to a range of symptoms such as a dry, sticky feeling in the mouth, difficulty speaking or swallowing, a sore throat, hoarseness, and bad breath. Dry mouth can be caused by a variety of factors including certain medications, radiation therapy, nerve damage, dehydration, and autoimmune disorders. It is important to speak with a healthcare professional if you are experiencing persistent dry mouth to determine the underlying cause and receive appropriate treatment.

Let’s talk about the causes of dry mouth.

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Causes of Dry Mouth:
If you lose a tooth, we recommend replacing it as soon as possible. The longer you go without replacing the tooth, the more serious the side effects get. We offer various tooth replacement options at our Greer, SC, dentist office.

Medications:
Many prescription and over-the-counter medications can cause dry mouth as a side effect. Some examples include antihistamines, decongestants, antidepressants, and pain relievers.

Radiation Therapy:
Radiation therapy to the head and neck can damage the salivary glands, leading to a decrease in saliva production and dry mouth.

Medical Conditions:
Certain medical conditions, such as Sjogren’s syndrome, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and Parkinson’s disease, can cause dry mouth.

Nerve Damage
Damage to the nerves that control salivary glands can lead to dry mouth.

Dehydration:
Not drinking enough fluids or sweating excessively can lead to dehydration, which can cause dry mouth.

Mouth Breathing:
Breathing through the mouth instead of the nose can cause dry mouth, especially during sleep.

Tabacco & Alchohol Use:
Both tobacco and alcohol can contribute to dry mouth.

It is important to speak with a healthcare professional if you are experiencing persistent dry mouth to determine the underlying cause and receive appropriate treatment.

What Causes Dry Mouth?