Dental Notes
Posts for: November, 2016
What is Dry Mouth?
Do you find yourself getting thirsty a lot? Maybe the inside of your mouth feels sticky, or your saliva gets thick or foamy. If any of these are true for you, you may be suffering from dry mouth, also known as xerostomia. If you do, don’t worry; you are not alone! 
Dry mouth is surprisingly common, as over 25% of people suffer from this ailment. Dr. Samuels and his entire team takes great pride in doing all we can to ensure our patients in the Rockville, MD area have their mouths in great health. Unfortunately, dry mouth is a common condition that can have many negative affects on your dental health. Below, Dr. Samuels begins a discussion on what dry mouth is, what some common causes of dry mouth are, and ways you may be able to find some relief.
First, it is important to understand what dry mouth is. Dry mouth is a shortage of saliva or insufficient salivary flow. When you suffer from dry mouth, your saliva production is being stunted by some sort of outside force. A group of people that is more likely to suffer from dry mouth are the elderly.
Why is dry mouth a problem for your dental health?
Saliva serves many important functions in defending your mouth from a variety of diseases and health problems. If you are not producing enough saliva, the side effects can be both annoying and damaging. Dry mouth has been connected to gum disease, an increase in cavities, tooth sensitivity, and diabetes.
In our next blog post, Dr. Samuels will discuss a few of the common causes of dry mouth. Please stay tuned to our blog, follow us on Twitter, and Like us on Facebook to stay engaged and improve your dental health!
Last week, we began a discussion about what food will benefit your oral health. Dr. Samuels continues the discussion giving five more food options.
1. Cheese:
High in calcium, and low in sugar and acid, cheese is an excellent choice for your oral health. Additionally, cheese contains casein, a protein that strengthens the enamel of our teeth.
2. Sugarless Chewing Gum:
Chewing gums that contain xylitol are excellent for your oral health. However, not all sugarless chewing gums contain xylitol. Xylitol is a sugar substitute that actually works as an “anti-sugar” of sorts. Xylitol prevents the bacteria and plaque in our mouth from proper metabolizing. Additionally, chewing gum helps to stimulate your saliva rid your mouth of bacteria and plaque.
3. Tap Water:
Unlike purified or spring water, tap water contains a good amount of fluoride. Fluoride helps to strengthen your teeth and protect against cavities. Tap water will help to reverse the affects that acids and sugars have on your mouth and revitalize your teeth.
4. Pears:
Similar to other fruits and vegetables listed, pears help to stimulate saliva production. An additional benefit of pears is they are much less citric than other fruits.
5. Yogurt:
Like cheese, yogurt is a great source of casein and phosphates that help to reverse the affects of acids and sugars.
As a rule of thumb of foods to avoid, avoid foods high in sugar, acid, and stickiness. These foods fuel the plaque and germs in your mouth that can wreak havoc in your mouth.
Dr. Samuels wants you to have a healthy smile. If you would like to schedule a visit at our office in Rockville, MD, we welcome you to contact us at 301-881-4200.
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