Dry Mouth: A Hidden Threat to Your Oral Health | Dentist in Marietta
Saliva plays a critical role in maintaining your oral health. It lubricates your mouth, helps with digestion, and protects your teeth by neutralizing acids, sugars, and leftover food particles. While we all experience dry mouth occasionally, such as after exercise or during hot weather, chronic dry mouth (xerostomia) can lead to serious oral health complications. Our dentist in Marietta [https://dentistmariettaga.com/our-team/] is here to help you understand the risks and how to manage dry mouth effectively.
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COMMON PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH DRY MOUTH
When your body doesn't produce enough saliva, it can result in a variety of uncomfortable and potentially harmful oral health issues, including:
* INCREASED RISK OF TOOTH DECAY: Without enough saliva to wash away food particles and acids, your teeth are more susceptible to cavities.
* ORAL YEAST INFECTIONS: Dry mouth can lead to an overgrowth of yeast, causing infections like thrush.
* BAD BREATH (HALITOSIS): A lack of saliva allows bacteria to thrive, which can cause persistent bad breath.
* GUM DISEASE: Saliva helps maintain the health of your gums, and its absence increases the risk of gingivitis and periodontitis.
* SORE THROAT AND DIFFICULTY SWALLOWING: Dryness can make swallowing uncomfortable and can lead to frequent sore throats.
* DISCOMFORT FOR DENTURE WEARERS: A dry mouth can cause irritation and difficulty...
