We all have had dry mouth at some point in our lives. Whether it is from anxiety, medication, disease, syndrome, or simply age; it is important to know what is up.

We will be understanding what dry mouth is, what causes it, and how to prevent it. Here in Los Algodones we invite you to check with a dentist or physician if you suffer from long periods of dry mouth, as it could be a side effect of something bigger.

What dry mouth is

In simple words, dry mouth (also called xerostomia) is when your saliva glands do not produce enough saliva. As such you get the feeling that your mouth feels sticky, usually keeping you from speaking, eating and swallowing normally. Also you will likely suffer from sore throats, hoarseness and difficulty wearing dentures.

Since you are producing much less saliva than you should, it leaves you open to tooth decay, gingivitis and gum disease. You see, the saliva helps moving food remnants out of your mouth, as well as neutralizing bacteria and acids.

It is common to suffer from dry mouth as we age, either from it or medication. But that does not mean you should let it slip!

What causes it

It is important to know that dry mouth just does not happen without a clear reason. There are many things to consider!:

Dehydration: it could simply mean you are not drinking enough water. Remember to keep yourself hydrated throughout the day. You can also chew on sugarless gum to boost saliva production.

Medication: it is common that it is a side-effect from certain medications such as pain killers, antidepressants, diuretics and antihistamines to mention some of them.

Diseases and syndromes: there are also syndromes and diseases which cause xerostomia. Autoimmune diseases and diabetes are one of the most common.

Smoking: tobacco and cigarette’s fumes tend to leave the mouth dry.

Nerve damage: if you have received a some kind of nerve damage through a hit to the head or neck, then that might have something to do.

How to prevent dry mouth

We all want to avoid having further complications, even more so when it is linked to our teeth! As such it is best if you address the cause directly. Here we will leave you some tips in hopes you can lead your oral health back on track:

Drink more water! If you are not drinking enough water, your body will have a hard time keeping up with your saliva production. Think of how we are more than 70% water.

Chew on sugarless gum or suck on sugarless hard candy. This will prompt your mouth to produce more saliva and make you have an easier time. Citrus and mint-flavored ones are a very good choice.

Avoid drinks with caffeine. That’s right, things such as coffee, sodas and tea do not help keeping your mouth as it should but rather prompt it to be more dry.

Feel more than free to consult it with your dentist or physician. They are more than capable to give you alternative medications that do not cause dry mouth as a side-effect, as well as help you deal with the root of it.

If you are interested we invite you to contact us in Los Algodones, Mexico, where you can get an appointment with the best dentists and at very cheap prices!