Effects of Dry Mouth on Your Teeth and Gums

Posted on 12/10/2019 by Thomas Mahar

To function correctly, our mouths need saliva. Apart from keeping our mouths moist, saliva also plays a crucial role in swallowing and breaking down food.

Moreover, saliva also acts as a cleanser, thereby regularly washing our teeth and mouth. Dry mouth is a common condition that affects the flow of saliva in our mouths, thus causing our mouths to feel dry. This can lead to a wide range of oral health problems.

Symptoms of Dry Mouth

There are numerous symptoms that you can always look out for. The most common symptom of dry mouth is a reduction in the amount of saliva produced in our mouths. On some occasions, your saliva may become sticky and thick, thereby making it difficult to swallow or speak. You might also have a burning or prickly sensation in your mouth.

What Are Some Of The Problems Associated With Dry Mouth?

Saliva assists us in neutralizing the acid which attacks our teeth, thereby making it an integral part of our dental hygiene. While chewing food, saliva helps in the breakdown of food, thus allowing us to chew food more quickly and efficiently.

Saliva also plays a vital role when it comes to fighting tooth decay since it fights the bacteria which cause tooth decay, form dental plaque or gum disease. It also helps add minerals back to our teeth, helping to keep our teeth stronger. Having limited saliva in our mouths can also affect the taste of certain foods or make it difficult to swallow dry food. In some instances, dry mouth can also affect our speech or result in bad breath.

If you have a dry mouth, then you have a higher chance of developing tooth decay or gum disease. When not addressed, these conditions get worse and worse. Thus, it's essential to visit us regularly. We will advise on what can be done to battle back against your dry mouth.

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