The Dry Mouth Clinic at Tufts School of Dental Medicine is dedicated to the assessment and treatment of dry mouth and other oral conditions in medically compromised patients.
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What is dry mouth and how can it affect your oral health?
Dry mouth also known as xerostomia is a condition where there is a lack of saliva in the mouth. Dry mouth can be caused by chronic diseases such as Sjogren’s Syndrome, radiation therapy for head and neck cancer, bone marrow transplants and side effects of medications. Dry mouth can cause an increased risk to caries, periodontal disease, bad breath and infections in the mouth.
What are the symptoms?
- Dry sticky feeling in the mouth
- Burning tongue
- Difficulty swallowing and eating
- Sores in the mouth
- Dry lips
Treatment
Dry mouth is treated by increasing saliva and decreasing dryness in the mouth.
The following are suggested treatments to increase saliva.
- Vitamin E and Omega-3 Fatty Acids
- Use of a sonicare toothbrush to thoroughly remove plaque from teeth and gums
- Use of prescription fluoridated toothpaste for example, Prevident
- Chew sugar free gum and candy
- Use MI-Paste or other over the counter dry mouth products, such as Biotene products
- Use of prescription medications, Evoxac or Salagen
- Get your teeth cleaned and receive a fluoride treatment every 3 months.
