What Is Dry Mouth (Xerostomia)?
It sounds obvious…dry mouth is caused by a lack of saliva. Our mouths feel dry when we’re hot, thirsty or sometimes even when we’re nervous.
Occasional dry mouth is perfectly normal.
Prolonged, frequent (chronic) dry mouth is different.
In addition to being caused by external factors like disease, medication and other reasons beyond your control….
Severe dry mouth (known as Xerostomia) is often the cause of much more SERIOUS health problems.
To fully appreciate this critical fact, you first need to understand:
Why is saliva important?
Saliva lubricates and protects teeth and oral tissues from chemicals in the food and drinks you consume, tobacco (if you smoke or dip) and so on.
In addition to protecting teeth and oral tissues, saliva carries antioxidants (Urate or Uric Acid, Albumin and Ascorbate) which heal damage caused by free radicals and antimicrobials to fight infection.
Without the normal flow of saliva eating and talking become difficult and even painful. Your tongue becomes dry, cracked and inflammed. Oral tissues become sensitive and your mouth will feel unquenchably parched.
If dry mouth is left untreated, you can eventually experience tooth decay and other unpleasant periodontal disease, resulting in significant time and expense.
