In my last Blog, I discussed the cause of a dry mouth.
In Part 2, I will provide some guidelines for the management of a dry mouth.
Firstly, a little basic Chemistry- Saliva is made up mostly of water but also contains ions and minerals & enzymes that protect your teeth, gums and mucosa (the lining of your mouth).
Importantly, saliva contains bicarbonate and ammonium, which neutralises acids produced by the bacteria in your mouth. This Acid acts to soften the tooth, which causes decay. Saliva is your body’s protection against decay. If there is no or little saliva, you have very little protection. While there is no cure for a dry mouth there are a number of steps that can be taken to manage the symptoms and reduce the risk of decay.
Drink at least 1.5-2L of water per day. Drink even more if you have lost water through excessive perspiration as happens during exercise or just hard work. Ensure you limit caffeine intake. Caffeine is a diuretic, which increases water loss. Keep caffeine intake to a maximum of 1-2 cups per day.
Nicotine limits the flow of blood to the salivary glands reducing the production of saliva (just another good reason to stop smoking). Alcohol, like caffeine is a diuretic so try to limit consumption as much as possible.
Bicarbonate solution provides lubrication to wash away food debris that accumulates more readily without saliva and neutralises acids in food as well as acids produced by the bacteria in the mouth. Simply dissolve ½ teaspoon of baking soda with a half glass of water & rinse.
Tooth Mousse provides the building blocks (minerals) for healthy teeth, which are normally present in healthy saliva. Applying a thin smear of tooth mouse (only available at dental practices) 2-3 times daily will provide the necessary minerals to help harden the tooth surface. Available at Alex Bratic Dental Care at Cost Price
Fluoride treatments will help to combat the elevated risk of tooth decay. Product of choice is Neutrafluor 5000. Use as your regular toothpaste twice a day. It’s available at Alex Bratic Dental Care at Cost Price.
This remedy has minimal therapeutic effect. It’s advisable contact the practice for more advice.
Alex Bratic Dental Care is conveniently located on City Road at Beenleigh. We are close to transport and our onsite parking is free and very easy to access.
For all Health Fund Members our HICAPS facility enables payments to be processed at the time of the appointment, which means members, are only required to pay the difference between the charged fee & the Health Fund Rebate (gap fee).
Contact us on (07) 3287 2627 or simply book your appointment online.