Dry mouth syndromes are very uncomfortable where the tongue can adhere to teeth or the roof of your mouth.

The mouth may feel like its exceptionally dry, uncomfortable. Speaking comfortably is more challenging and can cause a noted change confidence.

Having a dry mouth can cause increase the risk of dental decay especially at the gum line.

Chronic dry mouth (Xerostomia) is caused by lack of saliva for a long period of time.
Multiple causes for this condition includes:

• Increasingly, some cardiovascular and cardiac medications amongst many conventional medications, change the flow rate of saliva into the mouth, resulting in a dry mouth.
• Chronic diseases such as Sjogren’s Syndrome and certain other medical treatments are also responsible for an alteration in saliva production.
• Typical examples of medical treatments which affect dry mouth may include bone marrow transplants, radiation treatment, specifically for head or neck cancer or the removal of salivary glands, which can lead to a progressive onset of this condition.
• Chronic dry mouth is not only uncomfortable, but it also increases your risk for Dental Decay. Beacon Dental Clinic offer a comprehensive diagnostic and treatment programme to help manage dry mouth syndromes.
• Understanding what the causes of dry mouth are and what solutions are available are your first steps to relief from chronic dry mouth.
• Management of dry mouth syndromes will substantially avoid accelerated tooth decay. Dental management, tooth restoration and in advanced decay situations, root canal treatment and crown or bridge tooth replacement may be required, dependent on the rate of untreated decay.
• Frequent dental visits help enormously with the management of dry mouth syndromes, avoiding dental decay and increasing dental maintenance and tooth protection.

What can we do for you?

Prosthodontists specifically and dentists are committed to helping you overcome the lifetime of risks that chronic dry mouth presents and ensure your natural teeth, crowns, bridges and implants look and function optimally.

We can:

• Work with your doctor to manage your Chronic Dry Mouth.
• Provide greater comfort with prescription salivary substitutes gels, oral sprays, certain mints and gums.
• Prescribe specific toothpastes and mouthwashes to reduce risk of tooth decay.
• Recommend (where appropriate)and provide dental implants to stabilise dentures decreasing irritation caused by chronic dry mouth.

Our Clinicians are educated in implant, aesthetic and reconstructive dentistry. They also can help in chronic dry mouth relief and related dentistry needs.

Our dental hygiene service can help maintain treatment outcomes

Relieve your symptoms

Saliva is key to a healthy mouth. Without adequate saliva you can develop tooth decay and other more serious conditions.

Simple steps can be taken to diagnose the problem and relieve symptoms.

Why care about dry mouth?

Lack of saliva, which contains protective minerals and proteins, can result in tooth decay, especially near the gum line and crown margins, and infect your gums.

What causes dry mouth?

• Prescriptions that help depression, asthma, bladder control, blood pressure, some neurological diseases as well as some over-the-counter medicines to alleviate allergies, colds and coughs.
• Chronic diseases such as diabetes, ectodermal dysplasia, hepatitis C, sarcoidosis and Sjogren’s Syndrome, amongst many other increasing medications and conditions, are now being identified as contributing to a reduction in healthy saliva.

What steps can you take to alleviate your discomfort?

• Drink additional fluids which do not contain sugar.
• Still water is best.
• Use sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva flow.
• Visit your dentist more frequently than every six months to address your increased risk of tooth decay.
• Consume food and drinks with a low pH.

Acid sources from inside the mouth.

Gastric Fluid. This can be caused by a condition known as GORD(GERD) Gastroesophegeal Reflux Disease. This is a disease where gastric fluid from the stomach comes in contact with the teeth causing erosion and commonly occurs during sleep. People who suffer from Bulimia and Anorexia Nervosa can experience very significant tooth erosion similar to GORD(GERD) patients.

Habits and behaviors that cause erosion.
Excessive tooth brushing with abrasive toothpastes and habits such as swishing of acidic low pH drinks or biting lemons can increase the acidic content of oral fluids. Teeth subject to acid erosion can also significantly contribute to the tooth wear caused by tooth grinding or Sleep Bruxism due to removal of the harder outer enamel surface.