What Causes Dry Mouth?

By Author: Frank Meshkani
Total Articles: 76
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It is normal to have a dry mouth occasionally when you are dehydrated or feeling nervous. But, a persistent dry mouth indicates an underlying problem. Dry mouth is more prevalent among seniors than adults. Consult your Blacktown dentists if you have a dry mouth that doesn’t go away.

What Is Dry Mouth?

Lack of saliva can lead to dry mouth. Individuals with dry mouth do not have enough saliva to keep the mouth wet. Our mouth needs saliva to work properly. It’s the saliva that helps to keep the mouth moist, break down, and swallow food. In fact, saliva acts a cleanser and washes out tooth-decay and gum disease-causing bacteria. In short, saliva helps to keep the mouth clean and bacteria at bay.

What Causes Dry Mouth?

Several reasons causes dry mouth, and possible causes include:-

Medications

Many medications cause dry mouth, including decongestants, hypertensive medications, muscle relaxants, ...
... antihistamines, and a number of antidepressants.

Age

Of course, dry mouth is not a part of aging. Seniors tend to take more medicines than the rest of the population and certain medications they take can dry their mouth.

Tobacco

Smoking and chewing tobacco increase the risk of dry mouth symptoms.

Dehydration

Dehydration can also cause dry mouth, and it is caused by lack of sufficient fluids.

Uncontrolled Diabetes

Certain health conditions can cause dry mouth and poorly controlled diabetes is one of them. When your blood sugar levels are high or low than they should be, it can lead to various issues, including dry mouth.

What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Dry Mouth?

People experiencing dry mouth might experience some or all of the following symptoms:-

- Frequent thirst without any physical activity

- Dry feeling in the mouth

- Difficulty speaking, chewing, and swallowing

- A diminished sense of taste

- Chapped and cracked lips

- Persistent bad breath that doesn’t go away

- Dry corners of the mouth

- White tongue indicative of fungal infection

- Tooth decay

- Bleeding, red, swollen gums

When to See a Doctor?

Proper diagnosis can help in developing the right treatment plan and management. So, if you notice persistent dry mouth signs, make an appointment with emergency dentist Blacktown. When the dry mouth is diagnosed, the dentist will determine the cause of dry mouth and suggest the best treatment plan to treat the condition. The dentist will examine salivary glands and ducts to check for blockages and measure stimulated and unstimulated salivary flow.

For further queries regarding dry mouth or Blacktown dental problems, please call us today. We are happy to assist you with all your queries.

The author of this article is the best emergency dentist Blacktown. Along with a team of professionals, he offers a range of dental services. Visit https://www.westpointdental.com.au/ for more details.