DRY MOUTH

Everyone has a dry mouth once in a while - if you are nervous, upset or under stress. Your saliva also naturally decreases at night which can allow the growth of harmful bacteria and plaque. But if you have dry mouth all, or most of the time, it can be uncomfortable and can lead to serious health problems.

Dry mouth can cause difficulties in tasting, chewing, swallowing and speaking. The condition may increase your chance of developing dental decay and gum problems. Presently there are over 400 medications or medical treatments that may contribute to dry mouth.

Saliva is important because it provides a "first defense" against chemical, mechanical, and infectious attacks. Saliva protects teeth from decay and prevents infection by controlling against an overabundance of bacteria and fungi in the mouth.

Without enough saliva you can lose your teeth to tooth decay at a very young age or develop other infections in the mouth. You also might not receive required nutrients that you need if you cannot chew and swallow certain food. Saliva is the clear, usually alkaline, somewhat viscid secretion from three major saliva glands of the mouth: the parotid, submaxillary, and sublingual. Saliva consists primarily of water, but also contains enzymes and other proteins, small organic molecules and electrolytes.

People experience dry mouth when the glands in the mouth that make saliva are not working properly. Because of this, there is not enough saliva to keep the mouth wet. There are several reasons why the salivary glands might not work. Examples of circumstances that can contribute to dry mouth are the side effects of medication, which can cause the salivary glands to make less saliva. With age, people tend to take more medications. Also, certain diseases affect the salivary glands. Sjogren's syndrome, HIV/AIDS, Diabetes and Parkinson's disease can all cause dry mouth. Different medical treatments like radiation can damage the saliva glands if the glands are exposed during cancer treatment. Drugs used to treat cancer can make the saliva thicker, causing the mouth to feel dry and also causing difficulties in speaking. Certain injuries near the head or neck can harm the nerves that tell salivary glands to make saliva.

Some people mouths feel dry even if their salivary glands are working correctly. People with Alzheimer's disease or those who have suffered a stroke may not be able to feel wetness in their mouth and think that their mouth is always uncomfortably dry.

Dry mouth symptoms can include a sticky, parched feeling in the mouth, problems with chewing, swallowing, tasting or speaking. A common result is constant halitosis/mouth odor, a burning feeling in the mouth, cracked lips, a dry, irritated tongue and gum infection in the mouth. There can be sleep interruptions due to thirst. Also, as the mouth dehydrates, there can be greater difficultly in wearing dentures/prosthesis.

There are many steps that a person can take to help with dry mouth. Firstly, follow the directions on DocHarrison to improve gum health. All Bio-Pro^® Products are beneficial for a person with dry mouth. These products are effective because there is no alcohol or sodium lauryl sulfate to dehydrate or irritate delicate gum tissue.

• PerioComfort^® gel is designed in a small tube to carry in a purse or pocket. This refreshing gel will stimulate salvia flow and leave the mouth feeling fresh and clean.
  
• Other recommendations include sipping water or sugarless drinks during the day. Avoid caffeine because caffeine can dehydrate the mouth even more. Sip water or a sugarless drink during meals, which will make chewing and swallowing easier. Avoid using tobacco or alcohol, which dries the mouth. Be aware that spicy or salty foods may cause pain in a dry mouth. Consider using a humidifier at night.

Chewing gum and sucking candies that claim to be sugarless may not be safe for your teeth or your health. There are numerous studies in the dental literature that show that sorbitol and manitol will promote decay although at a slower rate. Unfortunately what happens is that people with a chronic dry mouth use candies as a short-term answer and then quickly suffer devastating root-surface decay on their teeth.

Aspartame has now become so prevalent in our sugar-free drinks and snacks that it is difficult to avoid. A significant number of people are exhibiting severe adverse reactions to this substance. Fortunately their symptoms usually disappear after aspartame is removed from their diets. Information concerning aspartame is readily available on the internet.

DocHarrison recommends Xylitol and Stevia as alternative sweeteners. Please read labels carefully to insure that you are getting what you want. In one instance Xylitol was promoted in big letters on the front label. But when reading the list of ingredients, Xylitol was at the end. Proper labeling requires that the ingredient with the highest percentage be listed first with the rest in descending order.