Dry Mouth

We teach all our patients at Fresh Meadows Dental Care about the importance of oral hygiene, but people who suffer from dry mouth need to be especially vigilant. Also known as xerostomia, dry mouth isn’t just irritating; it raises a patient’s risk of developing infections and complicates several other conditions.

Dry mouth has become common because it is a side-effect of a large number of medications, particularly for cancer. However, it can also result from Sjögren’s syndrome, which is a disorder of unknown origin which causes dryness in the mouth and eyes. Because saliva is important for keeping bacteria and fungus growth under control, its absence makes patients more likely to develop periodontal disease and thrush.

Patients can improve their saliva production by reducing their intake of caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco. However, if their dry mouth is being caused by a medication which they cannot have changed, patients may need to consider alternate means of moisturizing. These include rinses and mouthwash, as well as additional medications. Chewing sugar-free gum and candy is another way to boost saliva production. But regardless of what other steps they take, dry mouth patients have to be especially sure to brush properly.

Farid Hakimzadeh, DDS, operates Fresh Meadows Dental Care at 58-47 Francis Lewis Blvd., Suite 100, Oakland Gardens, New York, 11364. To schedule an appointment, call 718-224-7272 or visit FreshMeadowsDental.com and fill out a contact form.