Help for Dry Mouth Sufferers in North York

Dry Mouth: A Common Condition

Dry mouth describes a condition that is caused by a reduction in the amount of saliva in your mouth. Saliva contains proteins and enzymes that are essential for keeping your mouth lubricated and healthy. A dry mouth can lead to a buildup of plaque, which can cause bad breath, cavities, gum disease and mouth infections. Over 6 million Canadians have this condition and many may not even be aware of it. The #1 cause of dry mouth is medication; both prescription and non-prescription medications can cause dry mouth and taking more than one significantly increases the risk.

Easing Dry Mouth Symptoms

There are a few things you can do to ease dry mouth symptoms:

• Keep your mouth moist by taking small, regular sips of cold, unsweetened drinks
• Avoid things that dry the mouth, such as hard, dry or crunchy foods
• Dunk dry or crispy foods such as biscuits or cookies into liquids in order to make them softer
• Make foods easier to swallow by increasing the moisture levels with soup or broth, sauces or gravy, cream, butter, mayonnaise or yogurt
• Steam vegetables until they are soft
• Take sips of liquid between each bite

Early diagnosis and ongoing management can help you to avoid some of the more damaging effects of dry mouth. Yonge and Finch Dental Office recommends the use of Biotene®, the #1 remedy for dry mouth. Contact us to learn more or to schedule an appointment.