Dry mouth is a condition that can affect anybody, not just seniors. Dry mouth occurs when the salivary glands do not produce enough saliva, which is a moist liquid. This can uncomfortably leave you with a dry mouth. Dry mouth also has a connection to other oral health conditions such as gum disease. Therefore, the seriousness of the condition should not be underestimated, as you will require dental emergency treatment in the future. For seniors, this is more important as part of their oral care.
Saliva plays an essential role in your oral health for these reasons:
- It helps improve digestion by washing down food after eating
- It supports overall mouth functioning by helping you to chew, taste, and swallow
- Fights harmful bacteria in the mouth, keeping your teeth clear of adverse problems
- Prevents bad breath
- Protects tooth enamel from decay and gum disease
When suffering from dry mouth, your digestion slows down, your chewing and tasting abilities reduce, harmful bacteria build up owing to food debris and plaque, bad breath becomes more consistent, and you’re at a greater chance of damaging your enamel leading to decayed teeth.
Therefore, it is important that you pay attention to the lack of saliva in your mouth. Here are some helpful remedies to improve your saliva production flow.
Drink Water
Dry mouth may also be a result of dehydration, making it even more important to consume water regularly throughout the day. Whilst it isn’t the sole reason, but drinking water keeps your mouth clean and away from harmful bacteria build-up that can penetrate inside your teeth and gums if food debris remains inside the mouth. Want to know more about the connection between water and oral health. Read here.
Chew on Sugarless Gum
Chewing on sugarless gum can improve saliva flow. You want to ensure that you do not chew on any old gum, especially those with sugar, as this contributes to tooth decay. Sugarless gum is free from artificial sugars and preservatives. It is best to chew on sugar-free gum made with Xylitol. Consult your dentist for further information.
Improve Your Oral Routine
A poor oral routine significantly contributes to dry mouth. If you do not keep your mouth clean, particularly after eating, plaque begins to build and, combined with sugars and bacteria, can damage your enamel severely. Therefore, follow the basic oral routine steps diligently such as brushing and flossing your teeth, drinking water regularly, and avoiding using your teeth for certain habits.
Use A Humidifier
Where one spends a lot of time indoors, dry indoor air can make dry mouth worse. Using a humidifier can allow for moisture to appear in the room which can help reduce symptoms of it, especially at night.
Use Alcohol-Free Mouthwash
There are many kinds of mouthwash that contain alcohol which can impact the moisture inside your mouth. Alcohol-free mouthwash helps to fight germs inside the mouth because it contains ingredients such as xylitol to help kill bacteria.
Dry mouth is a condition that can cause oral health conditions to arise if it’s not combated early. Following these steps will ensure your mouth stays moist and that the salivary glands continue to stay moist, keeping your mouth clean.
Are you showing symptoms of dry mouth and need some oral advice? Check yourself in with one of our helpful Pennant Hills dentists today by clicking here.