Signs and symptoms include:
- Difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking
- Reduced/Altered taste: intolerance to spicy, salty, sour
- Burning sensation
- Dry/sore throat
- Halitosis (bad breath)
- Chapped lips
- Hairy tongue
- Lips/cheeks stick to teeth
- Interrupted sleep
- Loose dentures
- Sore gums
- Periodontal (gum) disease
- Increased natural teeth sensitivity
- Increased caries (cavities)
- Oral Candidiasis (Thrush)
What causes dry mouth? Several potential factors:
- Prescription and over-the-counter medications
- Diabetes, Lupus, Parkinson’s, Sjogren’s Syndrome, HIV/AIDS
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation
- Aging
Wearing dentures with a dry mouth isn’t easy. The condition can vary from mild to moderate to severe. I see a lot of patients that have a dry mouth; fortunately, new products, plans of action, and things to avoid can help you. In the next issue of Latest News, I will discuss these and provide a personalized daily regiment example.
Yours in good oral health,
Jon Nolan