{"id":1985,"date":"2021-11-01T12:51:52","date_gmt":"2021-11-01T16:51:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.walbridgedental.com\/blog\/?p=1985"},"modified":"2021-11-16T11:29:14","modified_gmt":"2021-11-16T15:29:14","slug":"what-causes-dry-mouth-and-how-to-treat-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.walbridgedental.com\/blog\/what-causes-dry-mouth-and-how-to-treat-it\/","title":{"rendered":"What Causes Dry Mouth?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Closeup<\/p>\n

Almost everyone experiences a dry mouth from time to time. Normal daily activity or unusual stressors can all be part of what causes dry mouth for you. For many, it\u2019s a minor inconvenience; but when a dry mouth turns into a chronic condition, it can result in serious dental health problems with lasting ramifications!<\/p>\n

What Causes Dry Mouth?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The determination of what causes dry mouth can be challenging, because there are several factors that can have an effect on your mouth. For you, all that matters is one thing: is your mouth producing enough saliva to create a healthy dental environment or not?<\/p>\n

When looking at potential sources of chronic dry mouth, there are a few major factors to look at:<\/p>\n

Medication<\/h3>\n

Interestingly, chronic dry mouth is often a side-effect of a medication. In fact, The Academy of General Dentistry estimates there are more than 400 medications that cause dry mouth, with diuretics, pain medications, antidepressants, antihistamines, and decongestants (even over-the-counter brands) among the top culprits.<\/p>\n

While not necessarily considered \u201cmedication,\u201d other health-related events can be a trigger for periods of dry mouth too. Things like radiation treatment for head and neck cancers are commonly associated with an onset of dry mouth.<\/p>\n

If something has changed with prescriptions you\u2019re taking, over-the-counter medications, or even specialized treatments, it\u2019s worth mentioning these to your dentist so they can be on the lookout for side-effects like dry mouth.<\/p>\n

Health Conditions<\/h3>\n

There are several health conditions which can lead to chronic dry mouth. Salivary gland diseases, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, and hormonal changes which occur with pregnancy and menopause are known to cause chronic dry mouth. Finally, there are emotional triggers; stress and alcoholism are known contributing factors.<\/p>\n

Smoking or Drug Use<\/h3>\n

In addition to alcohol consumption, smoking can be a major cause of chronic dry mouth issues. It may come as no surprise these days, when considering all the health side-effects that smoking can have on your body. Dry mouth plays into the larger picture of how smoking is debilitating for your oral and overall health, tying into other issues like tooth loss, severe inflammation, and even oral cancer.<\/p>\n

On top of smoking, illicit drug use is likely to trigger spells of dry mouth.<\/p>\n

Why Is Dry Mouth Bad for You?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In acute cases, it\u2019s easy to see dry mouth as nothing more than an annoyance. For many, that\u2019s really all it is \u2013 something you can handle by drinking a glass of water or eating fresh fruit. For chronic dry mouth suffers, however, the lasting effects are something to take seriously!<\/p>\n

Saliva not only helps break down the food we eat into the nutrients our bodies need, it also helps to wash bacteria and food particles off teeth. Saliva also neutralizes the harmful acids these bacteria can produce. Without this natural defense, plaque and bacteria can build up quickly at the base of your teeth, creating the perfect environment for bad breath, tooth decay, and gum disease<\/a>. Plus, saliva helps rebuild and re-mineralize tooth enamel \u2013 without it, your teeth can suffer a bacterial one-two punch.<\/p>\n

According to the American Dental Association, chronic dry mouth can also lead to oral candidiasis<\/em>, a fungal infection sometimes called \u201cthrush,\u201d and a painful oral condition known as \u201cburning mouth syndrome.\u201d Not only that, chronic dry mouth can alter your sense of taste, interfere with speaking and swallowing, and make dentures uncomfortable to wear.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, if your mouth isn\u2019t producing enough saliva, you\u2019ll be on the road for dental health issues.<\/p>\n

What Can Be Done About It?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Whatever the cause of chronic dry mouth \u2013 medications, disease, or another factor \u2013 the treatments for it include relatively simple, yet effective, lifestyle changes. If any of the causes above answered your question \u201cwhat causes dry mouth\u201d for you, then it\u2019s fortunate that you may be able to make these adjustments and quickly see the benefits for your oral health.<\/p>\n

Here are some great steps to take to reduce your risk of dry mouth, many of them being easy to add into your daily routine without much disruption:<\/p>\n