Stay hydrated this summer

Stay hydrated

With the warmer weather now upon us, it is important to ensure that you stay hydrated for your oral as well as your general health. In order for your mouth to work properly, it needs saliva. Saliva helps to ensure that your mouth remains moist, helps you to break down food and helps you to swallow. Saliva also helps to fight decay and keep your teeth clean. Without enough saliva, you can develop tooth decay and other infections in the mouth.

Everyone suffers from dry mouth now and again, but if you suffer with dry mouth all or most of the time, it can be uncomfortable and can lead to serious health problems.

Saliva helps to neutralise the acid that damages your teeth and is an important part of your dental health. Saliva helps to break down food while you are chewing, allowing you to swallow more easily. Saliva is also important in fighting tooth decay. It helps to fight the bacteria that form dental plaque and cause tooth decay and gum disease.

Having less saliva can also affect the taste of food and makes it harder to eat drier foods. Sometimes it can affect your speech and it makes people more likely to have bad breath.

dry mouthTreatment for dry mouth

There are several different treatments for dry mouth, and they will depend on what is causing the problem. Dry mouth can be caused as a side effect of medication, medical treatments, and some medical conditions.

  • If dry mouth is caused by medicine, your doctor may be able to adjust the dosage or offer an alternative
  • If your salivary glands are not working correctly, your dentist may give you medication to help improve the effectiveness of the glands
  • Your dentist may also be able to suggest an artificial saliva product to keep your mouth wet.

Bottle-of-waterThere are also some treatments you can complete at home to help reduce the effects of dry mouth

  • Keep a bottle of water or other sugar free drink handy and take regular sips
  • Avoid caffeine filled drinks
  • Chew sugar free gum or suck sugar free sweets to help stimulate saliva flow. Look out for those that contain xylitol as this can help to reduce the risk of developing cavities.
  • Quit Smoking
  • Reduce your alcohol consumption

If you would like further help and advice on the best treatment for dry mouth, do not hesitate to call Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre today on 01622 682 029 and book a consultation with a dentist.

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