Next to food and drink, dry mouth is also a very common cause of halitosis and other dental problems. When our mouths don’t produce enough saliva, harmful bacteria and plaque can invade all corners of our teeth and gums. The more these bacteria multiply and thrive, the more foul-smelling compounds they produce.
What Causes Dry Mouth?
Dry mouth is known to be a side effect of more than 400 prescription and over-the-counter medications. Excessive radiation and head or neck injuries can also impair the salivary glands and cause dry mouth. Other causes of dry mouth include medical conditions like HIV/AIDS, and feelings of stress or anxiety.
Women undergoing hormonal changes due to menopause or pregnancy can become susceptible to dry mouth. Smokers are also highly prone to dry mouth since tobacco can heavily inhibit saliva production. People who breathe with open mouths also usually develop this problem since air can easily dry out the mouth.
How Do I Know If I Have Dry Mouth?
These are the common symptoms of dry mouth:
- A mouth that feels rather dry, painful, or sticky
- Difficulties with chewing, swallowing and tasting food
- Difficulties in speaking and pronouncing certain sounds
- Cracked, dry lips and mouth sores
- A throat that feels dry
- A tongue that’s dry and rough instead of moist and painless
- Halitosis
- Dental problems and a mouth infection
Dry mouth is usually a temporary problem that goes away with stress relief, proper oral hygiene, and a change in medication. If any of these symptoms persist even after you’ve made lifestyle, dietary, and hygienic changes, you might want to consult a doctor or dentist. Dry mouth could be a sign of underlying health or dental problems that need to be treated.
How To Minimize Dry Mouth
As stated earlier, dry mouth isn’t really a long-lasting problem. Usually addressing the cause of dry mouth, such as changing medications and drinking more fluids, makes the problem go away in no time. Here are some ways you can minimize the recurrence of dry mouth in your day-to-day life.
Drink Plenty Of Water And Sugarless Beverages
Water and sugarless drinks help aid in the production of saliva. Since these drinks don’t have any acidic ingredients or sugar, they aren’t likely to increase the acidity of your mouth or dry it out. You can try drinking water instead of sports drinks or soda during physical activities and meals in order to keep your mouth moist and refreshed. If you need your water to have a bit more flavor, you can try mixing in some lime instead of using sugar and other acidic additives.
Avoid Caffeine
Large amounts of caffeine can cause dry mouth to recur. As much as possible, try to avoid drinking too many cups of coffee and tea, as well as other caffeine-heavy drinks like energy drinks and soda. If you really need your daily dose of caffeine, try drinking water alongside caffeinated drinks in order to minimize dry mouth.
Suck On Candy And Sugarless Gum
Sucking on candy and gum greatly aids in healthy saliva production. Sugarless gum containing xylitol can not only stave off dry mouth but also lessen your chances of getting painful cavities. Sugar-free candies can also stimulate healthy saliva flow without risking too much damage to your teeth and gums.
Your salivary glands produce more saliva when you chew candies with your mouth closed. However, biting and chewing on candy and other sweets can also soften the hard enamel on your teeth. In order to avoid any unnecessary damage to your teeth, it’s best to only chew and suck on candies in moderation.
Avoid Tobacco And Alcohol
Smoking plenty of cigarettes and tobacco can cause recurring dry mouth. The more you smoke with a dry mouth, the more damage occurs to your teeth and gums. The combination of smoke with odor-causing compounds can also cause you to develop pretty nasty bad breath. The best way to avoid this problem is to just stop smoking cigarettes and tobacco products entirely. You’ll be doing a favor for not only your teeth and gums, but also your heart, lungs, and whole entire body.
Alcohol is another common culprit of dry mouth. This is because when alcohol is broken down in your body, it causes excessive urination. The more you drink and urinate, the higher your chances are of becoming dehydrated. Without enough water in your body, your salivary glands won’t function as well as they should.
Use Alcohol-Free Mouthwash
Antiseptic mouthwash—that is, mouthwash made with ethanol—is often touted as a highly effective solution to bad breath. Unfortunately, these mouthwashes can often worsen problems by inhibiting healthy saliva production.
The best way to stave off halitosis and dry mouth is to use alcohol-free mouthwashes. These mouthwashes are less likely to dry out your mouth and kill healthy bacteria. Mouthwashes that contain xylitol and betaine can also do a better job of eliminating harmful bacteria without drying out your mouth.
Practice Proper Oral Hygiene
Regularly brushing and flossing your teeth is the number one way of preventing not only dry mouth but also other troublesome health problems. When you brush and floss properly every day, you’re killing and getting rid of harmful bacteria, plaque, and hidden food debris. Even if you drink several glasses of water a day or chew lots of sugarless gum, you won’t enjoy a healthy and moist mouth if your dental hygiene isn’t up to standard.
Another tool that you can use to freshen up your teeth and gums is a good dental scaler. Although toothbrushes are absolutely vital to a healthy and clean mouth, they can’t always get rid of stubborn plaque, dirt, and tartar stuck in hard to reach places as well as the gum line. Using a dental scaler after brushing ensures that leftover dirt and bacteria don’t cause you any problems and that your breath always stays fresh and fragrant.
Meeteasy’s dental scaler is a must-have tool that will save you from all kinds of embarrassing health problems and social situations. Our dental scalers are designed to remove dirt, plaque, and dental calculus in a quick, effective, and painless manner. Adjustable vibration settings allow you to scrub off all kinds of stubborn dirt, stains, and debris so that you don’t ever have to deal with painful cavities, swollen gums, and other dental problems ever again. Why not order yours today with just one click?