Dry mouth (Xerostomia)

Dry mouth is caused by lack of saliva and is often referred to colloquially as cotton-mouth or dough mouth.

Saliva has a very important function in the mouth.

Saliva is antiseptic and lubricates and washes the teeth and gums helping to keep them clean and free from debris and harmful bacteria and aiding in preventing tooth decay.

Persistent dry-mouth can be quite serious.

Because of the antiseptic nature of saliva and the role it plays it plays  in protecting your mouth from harmful bacteria if your  mouth is persistently dry then this protective element is absent and greatly increases the risk of dental problems.

Causes of dry mouth include:

Alcohol consumption
Coffee
MSG (monosodium glutamate – an additive sometimes occurring in Asian cuisine)

More serious causes of dry mouth include:

•    Certain types of medication
•    Radiation to facial area. Radiation can damage the saliva glands and inhibit blood supply to the bones.

Radiation increases the risk of osteoporosis and inhibits healing It is very important if you have radiation treatment to have a dental check up afterwards.

Your dentist will know what to look for to make sure your teeth, gums and mouth remain in tip top condition.

A word about biphosphonates

If you are taking biphosphonates it is very important that you let your dentist know and that you have an oral check up before you begin and have regular checkups while you are taking the medication.