Your dentist in Fresno, CA, can help with dry mouth.

Your saliva performs an important function. It acts as a buffer to protect your teeth from strong digestive acids. When you have a dry mouth, it means you don’t produce enough saliva to protect your teeth. A dry mouth also means your teeth and your smile can suffer.

The good news is, your dentist can help if you have a dry mouth. Dr. Curt Posey in Fresno, CA, provides a wide range of dental services, including treating dry mouth.

Many types of medications can cause dry mouth. You are at risk if you take:

• Antidepressants
• Antihistamines
• Decongestants
• Muscle relaxants
• Appetite suppressants
• Diuretics

Dry mouth can also be caused by:

• Normal aging
• Radiation to the area of your salivary glands
• Cancer in the area of your salivary glands
• Medical conditions involving your salivary glands

A dry mouth can lead to quite a few problems involving the health of your smile. Consider that dry mouth can cause:

• Increased risk of tooth decay, leading to a need for fillings or crowns
• Soft tissue irritation involving your gums, tongue, and cheeks
• Increased risk of gum disease and periodontal disease
• Digestive problems, because saliva helps break down your food

When you have a dry mouth, it’s important to practice an excellent program of oral hygiene to keep harmful bacteria levels low. Remember to:

• Brush your teeth after you eat and before you go to sleep
• Use a toothpaste containing fluoride to protect against tooth decay
• Floss at least once each day

There are also over-the-counter products available, created specifically for dry mouth to help produce more saliva. Your dentist can also supply custom-fit fluoride trays, so you can give yourself fluoride treatments at home. Fluoride works to harden enamel and prevent tooth decay. Fluoride is a very effective way to protect your teeth against the effects of dry mouth.

Your smile doesn’t have to suffer if you have a dry mouth. To learn more about how to prevent dry mouth, talk with an expert. Call your dentist, Dr. Curt Posey in Fresno, CA, at (559) 227-6755 now and protect your smile!