How Untreated Dry Mouth Can Damage Your Oral Health

Your mouth is meant to stay moist, and saliva helps accomplish that. While occasional sticky dryness in your mouth isn’t cause for alarm, ongoing issues can be without treatment. 

Thankfully, you can prevent dry mouth complications, reduce them, or alleviate them with the right care plan. And our team is here to help.

At the dental practice of Jason Ray, DDS, located in Santa Monica, California, we treat the dental effects of dry mouth to ease your symptoms and prevent further problems.

Here, Dr. Ray shares more about dry mouth, including ways this common issue can damage your oral health.

Dry mouth causes

Anyone can experience dry mouth, also known as xerostomia. It happens when your salivary glands produce too little saliva. 

Factors that fuel dry mouth include:

• Cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation
• Chronic conditions, like autoimmune disorders, diabetes, and hypertension
• Dehydration
• Excessive exercise
• Medications, such as antihistamines, antidepressants, and blood pressure treatments 
• Nerve damage in your head or neck
• Unmanaged stress
• Salivary gland damage or infection

Being of an older age or breathing predominantly through your mouth can also contribute to dry mouth.

Dry mouth symptoms

Dry mouth symptoms go beyond a general sense of dryness. While dry mouth affects people differently, common signs to look out for include:

• Bad breath
• Hoarseness
• Frequent thirst
• Persistent mouth dryness or stickiness
• Throat dryness
• Chewing and swallowing difficulties
• Sores in your mouth or around your lips 
• Tongue dryness, soreness, or tingling 
• Frequent sore throats

Your dry mouth symptoms may stay fairly constant or flare up episodically. And the severity can range from mild to severe.

Dry mouth and your oral health 

Saliva helps keep your mouth healthy by washing away food particles and contributing chemicals that neutralize acids that damage tooth enamel.

When your mouth becomes dry due to too little saliva, you can develop a range of oral health problems, such as:

• Tooth decay and cavities
• Gum disease
• Gum infections
• Tooth loss, if gum disease or decay goes untreated

Dry mouth can also fuel tooth stains and discoloration, creating an appearance you may feel self-conscious about.

What to do about dry mouth

There’s a lot you can do to prevent or reverse dry mouth. In addition to managing any underlying cause, Dr. Ray may recommend an over-the-counter or prescription mouth rinse, mouth spray, or lozenges to keep your mouth moist and healthy.

He may also suggest self-care practices, like chewing sugar-free gum, sipping water frequently, avoiding caffeine and alcohol, and using a humidifier at night. Quitting smoking can go a long way, too.

If you have dental damage from dry mouth, your treatment may include dental fillings for cavities, a deep cleaning to do away with plaque and tartar, or antibiotics for a gum infection. For discoloration you’re bothered by, consider our teeth whitening treatments.

To learn more about dry mouth damage or get started with personalized treatment, call us or request an appointment through our website today.