Everyone knows the feeling. Waking up in the middle of the night, frustrated at having to fall back asleep, but primarily concerned with immense thirst. That awful, sandpaper-dry feeling can be relieved for most people with a few sips of water, but what if it couldn’t? Or if you experienced dry mouth throughout the day
, rather than just in the night? For the roughly one in four Americans who suffer from clinical dry mouth, this is reality. This condition, officially known as xerostomia, can be more than just a nuisance for those suffering from it. So how about taking a moment with your favorite Tacoma holistic dentistry team to learn about how you can treat dry mouth!
What Is Dry Mouth?
Dry mouth is caused by the body’s inability to produce adequate amounts of saliva. While we may not think about it too often, saliva actually performs several important functions, including digesting food and washing away bad bacteria in our mouths. When your mouth is lacking saliva, these bacteria can build up, leading to a whole range of concerns, which we will address below. One main thing to understand about dry mouth is that it is almost always a side effect of a more serious health problem. From medication side effects, to disease or infection, dry mouth is often an indicator or symptom.
How Does Dry Mouth Negatively Impact Your Life?
When suffering from dry mouth, the problems it causes begin as irritations, and worsen from there. From the obvious frequent thirst and sticky feeling, dry mouth deteriorates. It can lead to cracked skin around the mouth and lips, a sore or hoarse throat, raw tongue, and even difficulties chewing, swallowing, and speaking. If these issues get bad enough, dry mouth can seriously impact your quality of life.
How Can Holistic Dentistry Cure Your Dry Mouth?
Since dry mouth is usually a symptom of another health issue, you need to tackle the problem holistically. The Plancich Dental team are specialists in diagnosing your oral health issues in context of your overall health, and dry mouth is no different. If you or someone you know is suffering from dry mouth, or you just need a cleaning, contact us today! Conditions like dry mouth may seem like nothing more than a nuisance, but it’s important to deal with them before they spiral out of control.