You might not realize just how important your saliva is. We try not to think about the stuff in our mouth, but in actuality, your saliva has a very important function in the overall health of your teeth! Saliva has the ability to remove bacteria from your mouth, preventing bad breath, gum disease, and decay. If you are suffering from frequent dry mouth episodes, you need to take steps to increase your saliva production in order to protect your oral health. Here are a few tips to get you started.

Keep Water Handy – Drink water throughout the day. Keep it next to you at all times, and drink frequently. Dehydration is a common cause of dry mouth.

Chew Sugar-Free Gum – Saliva production gets a boost when you chew your food, but you can’t eat all day. Chewing sugar-free gum can boost saliva production without doing harm to your teeth or waistline.

Sleep With a Humidifier – Sleeping with a humidifier in your bedroom can also increase your hydration, protecting your mouth from harmful bacteria while you sleep!

Check Your Prescriptions – Often prescription medications cause dry mouth symptoms. Check your prescription bottles, and ask your doctor about switching to a different brand.

Schedule an Appointment – If you try all of these things and still have dry mouth, please schedule an appointment as soon as possible. There could be something more serious going on in your mouth.

Dry mouth symptoms lead to decay, bad breath, and possibly gingivitis. Contact us today to learn more about how you can protect your mouth from dry mouth. We can’t wait to help you have a happier, healthier smile!