Dry Mouth and Oral Health

Good oral health is one of the most important – yet underrated – aspects of our overall health. Did you know that the simple act of flossing is able to help reduce your risk of developing cancer? The reason for this is simple. By keeping your mouth clean, you can reduce the amount of bacteria that has access to your body via the mouth. This in turn means your immune system is less stressed by fighting off germs. As a result, you are better able to defend against cancer and other health problems.

Dry Mouth and Oral Health

This is also why having a dry mouth, a condition that happens when salivary glands in your mouth don’t produce enough saliva, can be so bad for your general health. In this post, we’ll explore how this issue arises, what else it can cause, and what you can do to deal with it.

Dry Mouth Causes

If you have a dry mouth, the reason may be because of a number of different causes. Here are a few:

Health condition such as oral thrush. This is caused by an imbalance of the bacteria in the mouth, which can leave it dry and prevent the normal production of saliva. Many other conditions can have a similar effect.
Dehydration is one of the most common causes of a dry mouth. It is the result of not drinking enough water throughout the day – something many of us are guilty of.
Sleeping with your mouth open.
Anxiety and stress.

There are many other potential causes of a dry mouth. If you are concerned that the issue is serious, try speaking with your physician or dentist.

Dry Mouth Complications

The biggest issue with a dry mouth is that it is linked to a reduction in saliva. With less saliva, you are less able to kill bad bacteria in your mouth. That is because saliva is actually antibacterial.

The result is several fold. Not only can a dry mouth result in more bacteria and thus greater strain placed on your immune system, but it can also cause bad breath. The bacteria is also responsible for producing the odor associated with halitosis.

Finally, a dry mouth can lead to bad teeth. Tooth decay is of course due to the lack of teeth cleaning benefit provided by saliva, and an increase in bacteria.

If you notice you have a dry mouth regularly, try speaking with your physician. If this doesn’t result in a solution, then make sure to continue drinking lots throughout the day. You can even invest in a hydrating oral mouth spray.

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