Important Information About Dry Mouth
When you wake up in the morning, does your mouth feel sticky and dry? You may also experience this sensation when you have a cold and have to breathe through your mouth. This feeling is known as dry mouth. It occurs when there is a lack of saliva in the mouth. Saliva is important because it helps rid the mouth of lingering food and bacteria. When bacteria are not removed from the mouth, they will continue to increase and eventually build up along the gum line, leading to problems with decay and gum disease.
What Causes Dry Mouth?
You may be surprised to learn that one of the leading causes of dry mouth is medication. Prescription and over-the-counter medications alike list dry mouth as one of the most common side effects. Individuals may also experience dry mouth if they are mouth breathers when sleeping. This cannot always be avoided, especially when ill or during allergy season. If you are a mouth breather, we encourage you to try to breathe through your nose. We know this can be an extremely difficult habit to break, especially if it occurs while sleeping. Another common cause of dry mouth is smoking, vaping, and chewing tobacco.
Ways to Help Dry Mouth
If you experience dry mouth, be sure to drink water continuously throughout the day. You can also increase your consumption of fruits and vegetables that have a high water content. The extra moisture in the mouth will help rinse away bacteria. You can also use a humidifier in your bedroom when you sleep. It will prevent you from feeling so dry. Be sure to mention that you have dry mouth during your next visit to the office so we can monitor your oral health closely.
If you regularly experience dry mouth and are concerned about your oral health, we encourage you to contact our office, which is located in Terre Haute, IN, to schedule an appointment. We would hate for you to experience a complication with your oral health due to dry mouth. We hope to hear from you soon!
