I’m on a lot of medications that seem to cause dry mouth. What can I do to help fight against dry mouth?
Saliva is very important for a number of reasons. Saliva helps to keep the mouth clean by lubricating the teeth and tissues to carry away debris from food. Saliva also helps to buffer the acidic environment inside the mouth that causes the formation of cavities and decalcification of tooth structure. Saliva is also important in lubricating food to aid in swallowing, as well as initial digestion of food prior to entering the stomach. If salivary flow is low, you are at a much higher risk for getting new areas of decay quickly. Therefore, it is imperative to let us know if you have been noticing dryness of the mouth. We can call your doctor and ask if alternative medications can be used that may not cause dry mouth, or we can recommend salivary replacement therapies to help fight against the dryness. If you suffer from dry mouth, you need to come in on a regular basis to ensure you are not getting rampant decay as a result, and need to be watched closely to help cut down your high risks.
