Constant thirst, an unpleasant feeling and a smelly breath. They can all be unpleasant side effects of having a dry mouth. Is a dry mouth actually bad for your teeth? We asked biological dentist Hans de Liefde.
The medical term for having a dry mouth is xerostomia. This is what happens when you don’t produce enough saliva. You cannot call it a disease, but it is an annoying phenomenon. It can have various causes. According to biological dentist Hans de Liefde, this phenomenon is a growing problem. “It turns out that one in five people in the Netherlands suffers from this. Especially people older than 55 years, an estimated 40 percent.”
The causes of dry mouth
The causes of having a dry mouth vary. The chance that you will produce less saliva is greater when taking certain medicines. This can be caused by hay fever medicines, anti-inflammatory painkillers (NSAIDs), antibiotics, antidepressants, high blood pressure medicines and even antacids. But drinking too much alcohol, exercising, inflammation of the salivary glands and stress can also be the cause. It is also more common in people with diabetes, the biological dentist knows.
How harmful is this to your teeth?
We all suffer from a dry mouth from time to time and that is not a pleasant feeling. But is too little saliva actually harmful to your teeth? Yes, says Hans. “A dry mouth can actually have unpleasant consequences for your teeth. You are more at risk of gum disease, cavities, damage to your tooth enamel and it can damage the soft tissues in your mouth.” Always discuss these types of complaints with your doctor and dentist.
What can you do about dry mouth?
A dry mouth is therefore anything but pleasant, but it also poses serious risks to your teeth and gums. And you don’t want that! Unfortunately, having a dry mouth is difficult to combat, Hans knows. “Whoever suffers from this should brush even better to keep their teeth healthy. Preferably three to four times a day. Playing with your mouth and drinking small amounts of water regularly can provide some relief. Also rinse your food down with water.”
A few other tips: suck on ice cubes, eat sugar-free sweets, chew gum with xylitol and eat cucumber or apple. “It hasn’t been proven to work, but some claim it helps. You can also use mouth spray or mouth gel, but pay attention to the ingredients. Some substances actually cause a dry mouth.”