Dry Mouth Syndrome and Dental Damage
From time to time, virtually everyone experiences a dry mouth, whether due to a change in climate, reduced water intake, or some other cause that can be remedied easily enough. For some people, however, dry mouth is a chronic condition, and it is one that is more than just inconvenient and annoying. Dry mouth syndrome can actually cause serious damage to the delicate structures of the mouth, including the teeth and gums. While there are many excellent restorative dentistry treatments that can return form and function to these oral tissues, it is far preferable to treat the underlying causes of dry mouth syndrome before such dental damage is done.
If you or someone you love is experiencing chronic dry mouth, it is important that you seek treatment for it as soon as possible. At the cosmetic, restorative, and general dentistry practice of Dr. Jon Marc Van Slate, we are able to diagnose the underlying cause or causes of dry mouth and provide timely and effective preventive dentistry treatments. If Dr. Slate finds any existing connection between dry mouth and dental damage during oral exams at his Houston, TX practice, he recommends the course of treatment that will most effectively and efficiently restore health and beauty to the smile.
You don’t have to suffer through another day with dry mouth. To schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Van Slate, please contact our practice today.
The Most Common Causes of Dry Mouth Syndrome
There are several possible causes of chronic dry mouth syndrome. In many cases, multiple causes are contributing to the condition, some of which are beyond the patient’s control. Dr. Van Slate’s goal is to diagnose as many potential contributing factors as possible and help the patient make positive changes that will promote increased saliva production in the mouth.
The most common causes of dry mouth syndrome include:
- Medications, particularly antidepressants, antihistamines, blood pressure medications, and certain kinds of pain pills
- Dehydration
- Smoking
- Poor diet
- Too much caffeine
- Certain diseases, such as diabetes, AIDS, Alzheimer’s, hypertension, Sjogren’s syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis
- Infections
The Effects of Dry Mouth on Oral Health
Saliva is one of the most important substances produced by the human body. It is essential to chewing, swallowing, and speaking. While it may be difficult to conceive of saliva as a cleanser, it is also one of the most powerful cleaning agents in nature. It has a neutralizing effect on bacteria and protects your teeth and gums from microbial buildup. When your mouth does not have an adequate supply of saliva, you are more vulnerable to a variety of oral health problems, including:
- Tooth decay and cavities
- Gum disease
- Enamel erosion
- Mouth infections
- Halitosis (bad breath)
- Sore throats
Fortunately, when you address the underlying causes of dry mouth and increase the production of saliva, your risk for these oral health problems goes down dramatically.
Learn More about Dry Mouth and Dental Damage
To learn more about the treatment of dry mouth to prevent dental damage, please contact the dental practice of Dr. Jon Marc Van Slate today.