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Santa Clara, CA |
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Posted on 4/10/2018 by Kenneth G. Wallis DDS |
 Saliva plays an important role in your mouth. It's there to wash away any food debris after you eat. In turn, this will help reduce the amount of plaque that builds up on your teeth. This is why you always need to make sure that your mouth isn't dry. When you have a dry mouth, it can lead to a lot of problems with both your teeth and your gums. How dry Mouth Affects Your Teeth and GumsUntreated, dry mouth can also lead to many health issues. When left untreated, it can lead to severe tooth decay and gum disease. The Oral Cancer Foundation actually suggests that 30% of all tooth decay in older adults is caused by dry mouth. Other concerns include difficulty speaking, hoarseness, having a sore throat, and a burning sensation in your mouth. You may also have dry nasal passages and difficulty wearing dentures, which can result in problems with chewing and swallowing food. It's especially important for older adults to find a way of treating their dry mouth. Left unchecked, a dry mouth can lead to problems with chewing, swallowing, and dentures. So, if you're an older adult with these problems, we want to hear from you right away. Additionally, if you're responsible for an older adult, you'll want to make sure that they don't have a dry mouth. Besides excessive thirst, they may also have sores in their mouth, split skin at the corners of their mouth, cracked lips, and a dry, red, or raw tongue. Give us a call when you notice that your mouth is dry. We can help you decide if this is caused by some of the medications that your doctor has prescribed for various conditions. Sometimes it really is as simple as changing these medications. At other times we can suggest products that you can use to fend off dry mouth. |
| 265 Crestview Drive Santa Clara, CA 95050 Hours Monday-Thursday: 8am - 5pm
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