While we think about saliva just as water in the mouth, it’s quietly making many aspects of our lives possible. Normally, the body makes up to 2 to 4 pints of saliva a day!
Our saliva is 98% water. The remaining 2%, however, contains electrolytes, mucus, antibacterial compounds, and various enzymes.
Here are some of the amazing things saliva does for us:
What Saliva Does For You
Lubrication: Saliva protects the oral tissues from mechanical damage while speaking, eating, and swallowing.
Helps you chew your food, taste it, and aids in swallowing: Salivary enzymes start breaking down carbs and fats to help digestion.
Prevents bad breath: It washes away plaque and food particles.
Fights germs in your mouth to prevent infection: Saliva washes away sugar and food particles and prevents the overgrowth of microbes, bacteria, and yeasts in the mouth.
Remineralization: This helps keep the surface of your teeth strong by providing high levels of calcium, phosphate, and hydroxyl ions that constantly repair the damage from the acids in our food.
Retaining dentures: In case of wearing removable top dentures, saliva allows the prosthetic to suction onto the hard palate.
Without saliva’s protecting factors in the mouth, the teeth are drastically more prone to cavities and the overpopulation of bacteria and mouth infections.
Symptoms of Dry Mouth
Dry mouth, also called xerostomia, causes multiple dental problems. Three of the most concerning are:
- Fast-developing tooth decay
- Gum disease
- Candida (yeast infection)
Some of the most common symptoms are:
- Thick or foamy saliva
- Creamy white cover on tongue, palate, or cheeks (candida or yeast infection)
- Metallic taste or no taste at all
- Altered sense of smell
- Bad breath (halitosis)
- Burning or tingling sensation in the mouth
What Causes Dry Mouth (Xerostomia)?
- Mouth Breathing
- Dehydration
- Medications: This is the most common cause of xerostomia, or chronic dry mouth. Nearly 30% of Americans currently suffer from xerostomia. Many prescription and over-the-counter medications are causing dry mouth, including drugs used to treat depression, anxiety, pain, allergies, colds (antihistamines and decongestants), epilepsy, and hypertension (diuretics).
- Sjögren’s Syndrome: This autoimmune disease damages the glands that produce saliva and tears. People with this disease suffer from chronic dry mouth and eyes.
- Radiation Therapy: Irradiation of the head and neck in case of cancer treatment can destroy the salivary glands. The salivary glands either no longer function at all or produce such a reduced amount of saliva as to render it ineffective.
- Diabetes: More frequent urination and the medications taken contribute to dry mouth.
Does Dry Mouth Need Treatment?
The need for dry mouth remedies will vary depending on the severity of the condition. There are rinses, gel, spray, and lozenges. Here are a few brands to consider:
- Biotene: Toothpaste, oral rinse, spray, gel
- Oasis: Rinse and spray
- ACT: Rinse and lozenge
- TheraBreath: Rinse and lozenge
- Colgate Hydris: Toothpaste and rinse
- Oracoat Xylimelts: Long-time-release discs that secure to the cheek and constantly release moisture in the mouth.
There are several lifestyle changes you can make to help alleviate symptoms of dry mouth: drink plenty of water, use a humidifier, quit smoking, address mouth breathing, and review medication with your doctor.