When saliva goes missing, trouble follows. Though most of us take it for granted, saliva does far more than just keep our mouths comfortable. Its absence, a condition doctors call xerostomia, can cause problems like decay and affect everyday activities like enjoying a meal.
Your mouth’s natural moisture serves as a sophisticated defense system, neutralizing harmful acids, sweeping away food debris, and maintaining a protective shield around your teeth and gums. When this system falters, problems inevitably arise.
Common causes of this moisture deficit include:
- Medication Side Effects – Many common prescriptions, particularly those for allergies, depression, and anxiety, can significantly reduce saliva production.
- Medical Conditions – Several health conditions directly impact saliva production. Diabetes can alter your body’s fluid balance, while autoimmune conditions like Sjögren’s syndrome specifically target moisture-producing glands.
- Cancer Treatment – Radiation therapy targeting the head or neck region frequently affects the salivary glands. It leads to temporary and sometimes permanent changes in saliva production.
- Lifestyle Factors – Regular tobacco use and frequent alcohol consumption can decrease saliva production over time, creating a chronically dry environment in your mouth.
- Dehydration – Not maintaining proper fluid intake or losing excessive fluids through illness or exercise can quickly lead to reduced saliva production and uncomfortable dry mouth symptoms.
But here’s the encouraging part. You’re not powerless against dry mouth. Simple strategies can help restore balance: keeping a water bottle handy, adding humidity to your living space, or using specialized products designed to mimic saliva’s protective properties. Your general dental team can be your ally in this fight, offering targeted treatments from prescription-strength fluoride to artificial saliva solutions that help recreate your mouth’s natural environment.
Call 860-213-8124 or request an appointment online for a professional evaluation at East Lyme Family and Cosmetic Dentistry. If you’re experiencing persistent dry mouth in East Lyme, CT, relief is within reach!
