Dry Mouth Treatment: How a Family Dentist Can Help

A family dentist can help treat a variety of conditions including dry mouth. People need saliva to moisten and cleanse the mouth. Saliva also helps to digest food and prevent infection by controlling fungi and bacteria in the mouth. When you do not make an adequate amount of saliva, your mouth can become dry and uncomfortable. The good thing is that there are many effective treatment options for dry mouth.

A family dentist and dry mouth

Treating dry mouth can help improve a person’s quality of life. Dry mouth can be physically painful because of the decrease of saliva in the mouth. In many cases, the parched sensation makes it hard for people to talk and swallow food. The condition also allows plaque to build up on the teeth faster, which leads to a higher risk of cavities. Sometimes, a lack of moisture can end up making the tongue very sensitive. This condition can also lead to gum disease, bad breath and ulceration or soreness of the mouth.

Treatment

A dentist can help cure the condition by recommending the right treatment option. A patient can benefit from visiting the family dentist. The family dentist is likely to be familiar with a patient’s case if the patient went to the dental office for checkups before. The file with the medical history will help the dentist to determine the cause of the dry mouth. The dentist will then be able to recommend ways to alleviate oral dryness.

In many cases, the dentist will ask questions about the symptoms. The dentist may want to know if a patient has oral soreness, difficulty speaking or swallowing or a dry throat. A patient may help the dentist to diagnose the problem by paying attention to the symptoms that are often associated with dry mouth. Depending on the identified cause, the dentist may recommend taking particular products or using some methods at home to help improve the condition.

At-home actions and product use

A dentist may recommend eliminating particular foods. A person may be advised to avoid sugar as much as possible because it dries the mouth. Avoiding tea, coffee and other caffeinated beverages that contribute to oral dryness may also help. Alcohol should also be avoided. People who have difficulty swallowing liquids should drink through a straw.

Increasing water consumption can help. A person may have to drink more water and take sips throughout the day, which will help moisten the mouth. The dentist may also suggest the use of products that are designed specifically for the problem including dry mouth gel and fluoride toothpaste. Dry mouth gel can provide relief from discomfort and pain.

Takeaway

You should schedule an appointment with your family dentist if you have noticed persistent signs and symptoms of the condition. Your dentist will tell you the most ideal method to treat it. This will be determined after identifying the cause of your problem. If you want to find out more about effective treatment options for dry mouth, talk to your dentist as soon as you can.

Request an appointment here: https://www.drelloway.com or call Randal S. Elloway DDS, Inc at (530) 527-6777 for an appointment in our Red Bluff office.

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