What Causes Dry Mouth?

Dry mouth is a surprisingly common problem, affecting 50%-70% of adults. There are many potential causes, but here we'll focus on five of the most common:

Tooth decay: Many adults have teeth that either lose their minerals or form plaque. This produces dried-out mouth tissues and saliva that don't help fight tooth decay.

Smoking: It harms more than just your lungs – it can also damage your gums, resulting in a dry mouth. Smoking is amongst the leading causes of dry mouth in adults!

Medications: Some medications, like cancer chemotherapy and antipsychotic medications, can cause dry mouth. Other medications may reduce saliva production, making oral hygiene more difficult. List down all your medications & see if any could be causing your dry mouth symptoms. 

Poor oral hygiene: Not brushing your teeth daily, using harsh toothpaste, or drinking alcohol excessively can all lead to dry mouth. Mixing sugarless gum with regular gum can also help to moisten your mouth and prevent dry mouth. If you're new to using a toothbrush, start with an electric one or make sure your brush head isn't too hard as it can irritate. Finally, remember to keep your mouth nice and clean. This includes brushing your tongue every day; brushing your tongue can remove thick plaque along the roof of your mouth, which will aid in reducing dryness in your mouth.

Poor health: Even extreme stress, depression and fatigue can reduce saliva secretion by damaging glandular tissues that produce saliva. In addition, research suggested that stress may also be linked to dry mouth symptom severity!

Types of Dry Mouth

There're a few different types of dry mouth, but they all tend to result from one common cause: a lack of saliva. Saliva helps us digest food and wash our face and mouth. When salivary production slows, the body resorts to other methods of lubricating tissues and triggering oral breathing. Some of the most common causes of dry mouth are: 

• Sleep deprivation
• Dental issues, like dry mouths due to tooth decay or receding gums
• Cancer treatments that suppress the immune system, such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy
• HIV/AIDS
• Severe allergies or inflammation of the mouth and throat

Dry mouth is an annoying problem that a variety of factors can cause. The most common cause is a decrease in saliva production. Still, it can also be due to problems with your oral cavity (such as a tic or dental disease), medication use, and even certain medical conditions. If you experience dry mouth regularly, visit the nearest Next Smile dentists specialising in all oral health problems and dental surgery in Ballarat.