Dry Mouth
Dry Mouth
Wet Your Whistle
If your mouth is chronically dry and you've seen your doctor, she has probably probed possible causes, including medication or disease. In women, a disorder called Sjögren's syndrome is a possible cause of dry mouth as well as dry eyes. It tends to hit women after menopause.
Women with diabetes are at increased risk for dry mouth, says Heidi K. Hausauer, D.D.S., instructor of operative dentistry at the University of the Pacific Dental School in San Francisco and a spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry, as are women who have have had radiation for head and neck cancer, which can damage the salivary glands.
And some women find that their mouths simply get drier as they get older, for no medical reason, Geraldine Morrow, D.M.D., past president of the American Dental Association, a member of the American Association of Women Dentists and a dentist in Anchorage, Alaska.
BRUSH, FLOSS, CHEW, SIP
Whatever the cause, solving dry mouth is important--and not just for comfort, say women doctors.
"Bacteria forms in plaque, and it eats the same sugars that we eat, creating acid as a by-product," says Dr. Hausauer. "Acid causes tooth decay, but in a normal mouth, saliva buffers that acid." Here's what you can do.
When To See A Doctor
Saliva helps your teeth resist decay and gum disease. So if your mouth becomes uncomfortably dry for more than a few days, or if it recurs often, you should make an appointment to see your doctor or dentist, says Geraldine Morrow, D.M.D., past president of the American Dental Association, a member of the American Association of Women Dentists and a dentist in Anchorage, Alaska. The cause might be medication you're taking. Dry mouth is a possible common side effect for more than 400 drugs, from antihistamines to high blood pressure medications, among others. If medications are to blame, perhaps your prescription can be changed. In the event that your doctor concludes that dry mouth is caused by some underlying health condition, she'll probably prescribe an artificial saliva rinse and a prescription fluoride rinse or gel to be used daily to protect your teeth against decay.
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Floss and brush with fluoride toothpaste--religiously. Above all, a woman with dry mouth needs an intensive brushing and flossing program with a fluoride toothpaste, notes Dr. Morrow. "The healthier you keep your mouth, the less chance you give bacteria to set up shop."
Drink water, not soda. Dr. Hausauer tells women with dry mouth to carry around a bottle of water, sipping all day, to keep their mouths fresh and moist. Water is a better choice than soft drinks or fruit juices, since you want to avoid sugar and you lack the saliva necessary to neutralize the acids formed by plaque.
Tote some saliva spray. Both Dr. Morrow and Dr. Hausauer recommend artificial saliva rinses or sprays, available over the counter.
Chew away. If your mouth is dry, chew sugarless gum--it will encourage your natural saliva production and moisten your mouth, says Diane Schoen, dental hygienist and clinical assistant professor and coordinator of the Preventive Dentistry Program at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark. Studies have found that saliva flow improves significantly when people chew gum for ten minutes an hour.
Change your rinse. Some mouth rinses and denture cleaners can dry out your mouth, says Dr. Morrow. So try changing these products to see if this will bring some relief.
