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Facts and Tips: Dry mouth

Posted on 12/10/2021 by Office of Dr. James A. Krippaehne

Dry mouth is rare but it is mainly caused by dehydration, drinking many beers, or sleeping with your mouth open. A dry mouth is likely to leave you less confident and speaking in public can be hectic. To some individuals, dry mouth is chronic and keeps people in an uncomfortable situation. There are ways to take care of the dry mouth and get it back to a normal state.

Diagnosis

The dentist will examine your medical history and the medications you have to determine the cause of your mouth being dry. The dentist can also take tests, imaging scans, and measure the amount of saliva that you produce. If you have a dry mouth due to some issues like Sjogren's syndrome the dentist will refer you to a specialist.

Chew Gum

Get sugar-free gum and chew it so that it increases the amount of saliva in the mouth. The gum stimulates the flow of saliva and so it acts as a better method of taking away the dryness of the mouth. You can also use saliva substitutes that contain xylitol that is contained in sugar-free gums.

Drink plenty of water

Drinking plenty of water is vital for general health, it is also good for oral health. Water flushes away the food particles sticking in between the teeth and in the mouth. The food particles in the teeth cause plaque formation and this leads to tooth decay and you develop cavities and dental caries. Ensure that you drink a lot of water too so that you keep your mouth moist. It keeps away the dryness of the mouth giving you confidence.

Teeth protection

If you have a dry mouth the dentist might recommend that you use fluoride trays, they are trays filled with fluoride and you wear them when going to bed at night. The dentist might also recommend rinsing your mouth with chlorhexidine in a week so that your mouth does not dry out.

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Dental Blog | Portland OR | West End Dental
West End Dental, 833 SW 11th Ave, Suite 300 Portland, OR 97205 : (503) 446-2957 : west-end-dental.com : 9/29/2024 : Tags: dentist Downtown Portland :