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How To Stop Dry Mouth: What You Should Know

Saliva, which contains essential protein molecules, electrolytes, and minerals, is critical to good oral dentistry health. Saliva lubricates and cleanses the mouth, preserves and bathes tooth structure, neutralizes acids that cause cavities, limits growth of bacteria, viruses, and fungi, dissolves and breaks down food, assists with taste, keeps the mouth moist (no dry mouth which helps with speaking and eating), and facilitates the retention of dentures.

Research has shown that healthy, unmedicated older adults do not have any significant decrease in saliva flow. Loss of saliva and dry mouth are not the result of normal aging, but are instead associated with illness, disease, medication treatments, and medication.

Reduced saliva flow increases the harmful effects of the organisms of the mouth, causing dental cavities, bleeding gums, plaque, burning mouth, pain, soft tissue infections, and cracks. In addition, an individual may have difficulty speaking, tasting, and swallowing food. Dentures do not fit well or feel comfortable when saliva is reduced.

Older adults take many over-the-counter and prescription medications for chronic medical conditions and disorders. For many of these medications, decrease in saliva flow is a common side effect. In fact, over 500 prescriptions and over-the-counter medications cause dry mouth (xerostomia). The medications most often associated with dry mouth are:

• tricyclic antidepressants
• antipsychotics
• antianxiety
• antihistamines
• decongestants
• antihypertensives
• diuretics
• antiparkinsonism
• anticholinergics

Although medication use is frequently associated with dry mouth, certain medical diseases, conditions, or treatments reduce saliva flow. Examples are

• head and neck radiation treatment for cancer
• Sjögren's syndrome
• poorly controlled diabetes
• bone marrow transplantation
• HIV
• cystic fibrosis
• scleroderma
• amyloidosis
• sarcoidosis
• vitamin deficiency
• thyroid disorders
• mental stress and depression

By Denise J. Fedele, DMD, MS

Find a New Dentist To Meet All Your Dental Care Needs

If you're looking for a new dentist, you'll want to find a dentist who offers general dentistry as well as any specialized dental care you may require.

You can easily find a general dentist who also offers family dentistry. If you have children, you'll want to find a family dentist who is comfortable working as a children's dentist.

Before you find a new dentist, you should take a moment to think about just what would make someone a good dentist for you.

• Do you want to find a cosmetic dentist who can help you with teeth whitening, dental veneers, and cosmetic dentistry?
• Do you want to find a family dentist who can help with crowns and bridges, restorative dentistry, and children's dentistry?
• Do you want to find a sedation dentist who can offer oral conscious sedation and virtually pain-free dentistry?
• Do you want to find a denture dentist who can help with dentures, dental implants, and prosthodontics?
• Do you want to find a braces dentist who can offer invisible braces for adults, teen braces, Invisalign, and orthodontics?
• Do you have any special dental health conditions or general health problems that would require specialized dental care?

Finding a new dentist is a great first step towards protecting your dental health. Every tooth in your mouth will appreciate receiving the best dental care!

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.