Xerostomia

Dry Mouth Accelerates Tooth Decay and Gum Disease

Saliva is important as a first step in digestion, and to help prevent overgrowth of bacteria and fungus in the oral cavity. It is normal for salivary flow to decrease at night, reducing disruption of the bacteria that normally live in the mouth. We routinely ask patients to brush and floss before going to sleep to reduce the risk of tooth decay.

Dry mouth is a condition where salivary flow is significantly reduced in general. Symptoms can include a dry, scratchy throat, inflammation of the mucous membranes, gingivitis, a burning feeling, cracked lips, mouth sores, difficulty wearing dentures, bad breath, and problems with chewing, swallowing, tasting, or speaking. Dry mouth can greatly accelerate tooth decay and gum disease. Some patients try to reduce dry throat conditions by frequently chewing cough drops, or sipping tea laced with honey, sugar, or lemon. These habits exaggerate tooth decay by providing a continual source of sugar that bacteria use to cause tooth decay.

The most common cause of reduced salivary flow, or dry mouth, is medications. More than 400 prescription medications can cause dry mouth, including popular antihistamines, diuretics, antidepressants, antihypertensive drugs, and more. Diabetes and Sjogren’s Syndrome are also frequent causes. Additional conditions on the list are hypertension, asthma, mouth breathing, stroke, and more.

Treatment for dry mouth is limited to salivary substitutes and optimum brushing and flossing. Dry mouth patients should be careful to avoid frequent sips and nibbles of sugary foods, and should have dental exams every 6 months without fail.

    by Keith Collins, DMD