Spit is Your Natural Protector

But spit is so gross, right?  We get asked countless times how we can work in mouths, where there is all of that spit.  Did you know that spit is essential to a healthy mouth?  Without spit, you have xerostomia, or dry mouth, which is worse than you think.

Dry mouth is a side effect of certain medications, diseases, and medical treatments.  The symptoms are: a dry or sticky feeling in the mouth and throat, sores, recurrent thirst, bad breath, or a raw tongue.



photo credit goes to milan6

There are some over-the-counter oral aids out there to help with dry mouth, such as Biotene products and Oramoist patches, but something as small as sipping water and keeping your mouth moist throughout the day will help a lot.  Dry mouth can increase your chance of getting gum disease, cavities and certain conditions in the mouth like thrush.  In fact, those that have dry mouth can get cavities even if they brush their teeth three times per day!

Spit is your natural protector and helps keep bacteria at bay.  Saliva buffers acids in the mouth, so it removes the cause of cavities:  acid.  Even if you don't drink much soda, which is acidic, any breads or fruits or vegetables you eat give certain types of bacteria their food, and they produce acid.  Without saliva, you can't protect yourself against the acid, and your mouth stays tasting sour for hours on end.  We have seen patients who have no cavities at all, and they return in six months only to have a mouth full of cavities because of beginning a medication that has dry mouth as a side effect.  Don't wait!  If you think you have a dry mouth, call us and we can help get you protected from the consequences.