Dry mouth is a condition where not enough saliva is being produced. Your saliva contains proteins and enzymes that lubricate your mouth and keep it healthy and happy by flushing away bacteria and reducing infections and bad breath.
A mouth without sufficient lubrication becomes a host to bacteria that leads to bad breath, plaque, and other oral problems. All of these increase your risk of tooth decay, gum disease, infections, and other oral health issues.
Teeth cleanings are an effective method for identifying many oral health issues, which is why we always recommend routine dental checkups and exams every six months. Your dentist in Hamlet and Brentwood can help assess your oral health and determine if you have dry mouth.
Dry Mouth Can Be Uncomfortable
It can be challenging to talk, eat, swallow, taste food, or wear dentures. Prolonged dry mouth can create issues you may be unaware of like:
- Bad breath
- Cavities
- Mouth infections
- Gum disease
There are many different reasons why dry mouth might occur; common ones include stress, smoking, certain medications or illnesses, breathing or snoring through your mouth, diabetes, aging, and radiation therapy.
Call Us to Schedule a Dental Appointment
At North Tampa Dentistry, we encourage patients to make an appointment with your general dentist, Dr. Belle, so that he can find work with you to find a solution.
For more information, please refer to our recent blog.