What Can Your Dentist Do For A Dry Mouth?
If you have a condition like Sjorgen's syndrome or diabetes, then you may struggle with a dry mouth. This is a problem that can be addressed with your dentist. Dental professionals can do a variety of things to assist you. Find out more by reading about some of these things here.
Prescribe Medication
Saliva is essential in keeping your teeth healthy. It begins digestion with the help of enzymes to minimize the food particles that remain in the mouth. It also works to buffer the pH to reduce acidic attacks on the enamel, and it washes some of the bacteria away from the gums. For these reasons, the teeth will often develop cavities due to dry mouth issues.
Inspections of the mouth will help your dentist to note how much fluid is lacking. If it is significant and decay has started to develop, then you may be prescribed a medication that helps your body to produce more saliva. These medicines include Salagen and Evoxac. The medication works on the exocrine glands to produce more saliva and to excrete the excess fluid into the mouth once it is produced.
You should know that prescription medicines can have some systematic effects in addition to ones specific to the salivary glands. Fluids may be produced elsewhere in the body, leading to a runny nose, watery eyes, and excess sweat production. Watch out for these sorts of issues and speak with your dental professional to see if a reduced dosage may be a better option for you.
Protect the Teeth
Your dentist will want to increase the fluid from your salivary glands and protect the teeth from decay. Protection occurs with the help of fluoride and your dentist will provide you with fluoride gels and trays that you can use at night. The gel should be used once or twice a week. In some cases, a weak solution may be prescribed for everyday use.
In-office treatments may also be suggested on a regular basis. Rinses are often utilized along with some strong antibacterial fluids. These help to reduce the number of bacteria that live in the mouth and are able to cause decay problems.
Deep crevices in the teeth can be filled with plastic coatings to keep the biting edges of the teeth from deteriorating. While the coatings are often reserved for use with children, they can offer good protection for the adult teeth when paired with other types of enamel protection methods.
Contact a clinic like Wallington Dental to learn more.
Share