The mouth should be naturally moist from regular saliva production. If this doesn’t sound like you, you may be suffering from dry mouth. Read on to learn how to identify the condition, and why it shouldn’t be ignored.
Why Do We Have Saliva?
Saliva is a clear liquid that is produced by the salivary glands in the mouth. Humans produce a lot of saliva every day, an estimated 1-2 liters. It’s made up of mostly water, but there are some other important elements as well. Saliva serves a few purposes. It moistens and softens food, breaking it down and making it easy to swallow. Saliva also helps to clean and strengthen the teeth.
What Is Dry Mouth
Dry mouth is marked by a lack of saliva production, which leaves the mouth very dry. There are a variety of different causes, including old age, certain medications or medical treatments, various diseases, tobacco use, and dehydration. The condition is often characterized by dryness in and around the mouth, cracked skin on the lips and around the mouth, and sticky, stringy saliva.
How Does Dry Mouth Cause Damage?
As we mentioned, saliva is an important element to your oral health, and it provides a number of crucial benefits. Thus, patients with dry mouth are deprived of those benefits and left at risk for decay and weakening in the teeth. People with dry mouth also experience trouble speaking, burning sensation, fungal infections, sore throat, and hoarseness.
Let Us Help You Treat Your Dry Mouth
If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms of dry mouth do not ignore them and risk serious damage to your teeth–we can help! Here at Laulani Dental Care we can help you target the cause of dry mouth and treat the symptoms. Contact us today to schedule your next appointment, and you’ll be on your way to eradicating the pesky symptoms of dry mouth.
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