In this blog post from Koch Park Dental in Florissant, we are going to talk about dry mouth, an unpleasant condition that can actually affect your dental health.
Reduction of saliva flow resulting in a dry mouth is a common issue, especially among older adults. However, individuals of all ages experience the symptoms of dry mouth at one time or another. These symptoms include a dry, red tongue, difficulty swallowing, and persistent sore throat.
Sometimes dry mouth is caused by a disease or infection, but it is also a common side effect of prescription medications.
Decongestants, blood pressure medications, antidepressants, and painkillers are just some of the drugs that can cause dry mouth. It is common for allergy-prone people to complain of dry mouth when they start taking antihistamines during the hay fever season.
Aside from being an uncomfortable nuisance, untreated dry mouth can cause tooth damage. Adequate saliva is needed to keep the mouth lubricated, wash the food from teeth, and neutralize the acidic environment caused by plaque. Extensive dental caries can arise in the absence of saliva for dental patients with chronic dry mouth.
If dry mouth is a problem for you, don’t put your dental health at risk. Call us at Koch Park Dental in Florissant. Our services include general and cosmetic dentistry.
Contact Koch Park Dental – Martin L. Buchheit, DDS:
205-933-0323
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
2149 Charbonier Rd
Florissant, Missouri
63033
