Damages That Dry Mouth Can Do to Your Teeth and Your Gums
Posted on 8/24/2020 by Dynamic Dental |
Sometimes, dry mouth is a temporary issue caused by medication, excessive consumption of alcohol, and smoking. In many other cases, it's a chronic problem resulting from more serious underlining issues like aging, salivary gland infection, diabetes, autoimmune conditions, etc. But no matter what the case might be, early treatment is the key to preventing dry mouth from causing widespread damage to your teeth, gums, and even across other parts of your body.
Dry mouth (or xerostomia) is a condition in which the saliva production in the body wanes and the mouth runs short of natural moisture to function normally. Saliva neutralizes acids, supplies the teeth with essential minerals, and washes off food debris and bacteria. The severe shortage of saliva can result in chronic bad breath and difficulties with chewing and speaking. When left to fester, dry mouth can quickly precipitate more serious teeth and gum issues.
How Dry Mouth Affects your Teeth, Gums, and Other Parts of your Body
When bacteria are left to fester unfettered in a highly acidic environment in the mouth, they can give rise to a long list of dental problems. They can attack your gum tissues, causing gingivitis, which can evolve into periodontitis. Symptoms of advanced periodontitis include gum recession, loose teeth, shifting teeth, and, ultimately, tooth loss.
The teeth are also deprived of essential minerals and nutrients when there's a critical shortage of saliva to supply them. This, in turn, makes your teeth and gum more vulnerable to other oral problems like tooth decay, teeth discoloration, tooth sensitivity, and even oral cancer.
How to Prevent Dry Mouth from Damaging your Teeth and Gums
Always keep a bottle of water handy whenever you're struggling with dry mouth. You can also minimize the symptoms by moistening dry air with a humidifier. Regular brushing and flossing will also help flush out bacteria and plaque buildups before they stay long enough to cause any damages.
It's also important to visit our offices to let our trained staff examine your dry mouth, address any underlining issues and offer highly streamlined treatment solutions.
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