Dry Mouth - The Root of the Problem - Part 2 

At Periodontal Associates of Jackson, we know that your oral health is imperative to your overall health. Conditions like dry mouth can be the result of underlying health issues. It is important to know what causes this condition so it can be treated appropriately.

What Causes Dry Mouth?

Dry mouth is the result of low or inadequate salivary flow, but what causes this to happen? The common causes for inadequate salivary flow are medications, anemia, diabetes, chemotherapy, nerve damage, dehydration, smoking, caffeine intake and other various diseases and infections.

Any of the above mentioned causes can lead to dry mouth but the use of medication is number one. 

Here is a list of the types of medications that can contribute to the problem:

1. Allergy medications (antihistamines-allergies can be difficult to escape in Mississippi)
2. Antidepressants
3. Pain Killers
4. Diuretics
5. Blood Pressure medications
6. Decongestants
7. Anemia, diabetes, nerve damage and other diseases or infections can also create low salivary production.

For some patients that are receiving oral medications, this can contribute to dry mouth and tooth decay as well.

Stay tuned for Part 3 of our blog series on Dry Mouth where we will discuss treatment tips to alleviate symptoms and find relief.

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