Dry mouth, or xerostomia, is any condition is which your mouth is abnormally dry. It is usually caused by a decrease in saliva produced by the glands in your mouth, and is mostly commonly a side effect of medication.
Saliva is one of the most important protective mechanisms of the teeth. It assists food digestion, protects the body from microbes, balances the pH in the mouth, and supports the remineralization of teeth. Without saliva, teeth would dissolve. Denise Hunerkoch, Dental Hygienist, with Paducah Dental Care says, "20% to 40% of people are affected by dry mouth. In fact, dry mouth affects more women than men and is most common amongst older adults."
Causes of dry mouth include medication, aging, hereditary, poor diet, stress, cancer therapy, nerve damage, certain health conditions, tobacco use, and methamphetamine.
Dry mouth is a common problem that can be simply a nuisance by altering your appetite or enjoyment of food, or have a significant effect on your health and health of your teeth.
Symptoms of dry mouth
Dryness in mouth or throat
Thick and stringy saliva
Bad breath
Difficulty chewing, speaking and swallowing
Changed sense of taste
Problems wearing dentures
More frequent tooth decay
Irritation of gums and gum disease
Before seeing your dentist about dry mouth, make a list of the following information:
Any symptoms you have (include any that may seem unrelated to your teeth or mouth)
Personal information including major stressors or recent life changes
Prescribed medications including vitamins, supplements, over-the-counter medicines and their dosages
Questions to ask your doctor or dentist
During your visit, your dentist will likely examine your mouth and review your medical history and medications you are taking (including over-the-counter medicines). Your tests may take blood tests, imaging scans of your salivary glands or conduct a test to measure how much saliva you produce to identify the cause of your dry mouth. Examples of saliva test include the stimulated saliva test and the resting saliva flow test.
Problems with dentures start with the pain that occurs from improper fit and function. This pain leads to a lack of self-confidence when doing day-to-day functions such as smiling, laughing and eating. Complete tooth loss is also a major health issue. It has the same characteristics as a chronic disease and has no cure. In the past, the only option for total tooth loss was dentures.
Dentures provide a level of function for total tooth loss, but also complications. Nearly half of all people with lower dentures are not pleased with the function or comfort. This is caused by the lower dentures accelerating the deterioration of tissues by pressing down and compacting them. Studies show bone loss in the lower jaw is nearly 4x greater than the bone loss in the upper jaw. As a result, dentures feel loose because of the bone deteriorating underneath them. The bone loss results in the loss of jaw height, leading to facial structures collapsing over time.
Problems with Dentures:
Bone loss in the mouth
Face droops and collapses over time as the bone deteriorates. This shifts muscles in the facial structure.
Dentures must be thickened, or relined, to fit the changes in the mouth due to bone loss
Bad breath from the bacterial odors on the dentures.
Messy adhesives are often used to hold dentures in place. Some adhesives contain zinc which can cause neurological problems if used over a long period.
Day-to-day activities such as smiling, laughing and eating become difficult and lead to a lack in self-confidence.
Visible aging process is accelerated. The "witch’s beak" appearance alters the mouth’s appearance as the jaws deteriorate, causing the chin to jut out and up appearing too close to the nose.
Wrinkles around the mouth are increased
Pain and sore spots on gums are caused by dentures rubbing on soft tissues.
Difficulty chewing leads to nutritional and digestive problems due to the inability to fully chew and digest certain foods (such as fresh fruits and vegetables).
The Alternative: Dental Implants
Eliminate the problems of complete tooth loss with dental implants. Dentures can be stabilized and many problems can be reduced. The treatment of choice for many patients with loss of bone and lip support is a denture that fits over the dental implants.
Dr. Walden, Paducah Dental Care, lists several benefits of dental implants for stabilizing dentures:
Prevention of further bone resorption (deterioration) caused by complete tooth loss and wearing dentures.
Stabilize and improve the function of dentures with improved comfort and confidence.
Improved facial appearance including restoring lost lips and minimizing wrinkles.
Increased biting and chewing abilities allow patients to eat what they want again.
If you would like to learn more we will be offering a FREE Dental Implant Seminar Tuesday, June 13th at 5:30 pm. Seating is limited so call our office to reserve your spot, 270-444-6414.
