A decrease in saliva flow resulting in a dry mouth is a common problem, especially among older individuals. At Love Your Smile in Kelowna, we can help.
A dry mouth is not only uncomfortable, but it can cause tooth damage and bad breath. Saliva is necessary to keep the mouth lubricated, wash the food from teeth, and neutralize the acids that can cause plaque. Extensive decay can develop without saliva for dental patients with chronic dry mouth.
Symptoms of dry mouth include:
- Dry, red, or grooved tongue
- Persistent sore throat or hoarseness
- Sticky feeling in the mouth
- Saliva that seems thick and stringy
- Bad breath
- Struggles chewing, speaking and swallowing
- Changes in taste
- Difficulty wearing dentures (Mayo Clinic)
Contributing factors include medications and treatments, reduction in the body’s capacity to metabolize medication, chronic health issues, and poor nutrition.
For example, chemotherapy medication can lower saliva production, and radiation treatments to the head and neck can damage salivary glands, decreasing saliva production.
Other medical conditions include diabetes, stroke, or yeast infection in the mouth.
Decongestants, blood pressure medications, antidepressants, and painkillers (all used extensively in Kelowna) are some of the medications that can lead to dry mouth.
It is common for allergy-prone Love Your Smile – Dr. Stephen Malfair dental patients to complain of dry mouth when they start taking antihistamines during the hay fever season.
The following can also contribute to dry mouth:
- Snoring or breathing through the mouth
- Drinking alcohol
- Tobacco use (cigarettes, e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco)
- Recreational drugs
If you experience dry mouth, paying special attention to your dental health is important. The first step is to talk to a professional. Call Love Your Smile – Dr. Stephen Malfair to schedule an appointment with Dr. Stephen Malfair.
CONTACT LOVE YOUR SMILE – DR. STEPHEN MALFAIR:
778-760-2099
LOCATION (TAP TO OPEN IN GOOGLE MAPS):
301-1890 Cooper Rd
Kelowna, British Columbia
V1Y 8B7
