Theriot Family Dental

Holistic Dentist Says My Dry Mouth is the Big Problem

Posted by writeradmin

I have been seeing a holistic dentist for the first time and, thus far, I have found it a welcome change. She really listens to me and doesn’t blow off any of my concerns. My one worry is that I’ve had a lot more cavities since seeing her. She and I had a conversation about it and we decided my oral health care was not the problem. Then we talked about my eating habits and snacking. Apparently, a lot of snacking could be a problem. That wasn’t my particular issue, so we then went to any medications I have been taking. One of them causes dry mouth. My new dentist seems to think that would be the problem. I actually have had dry mouth since taking it. Can that really cause so many problems with decay?

Preston

Dear Preston,

A woman sitting in a dental chair with a thumbs up

It sounds like you have a great Holistic Dentist. She was very thorough in trying to determine where all your cavities have come from. On top of that, she is right. A dry mouth can devastate your oral health.

Your Saliva Is Extremely Important

Your saliva does so many incredible things.

  • It assists in breaking down your food, which aids your digestive process.
  • It helps heal thin tissue in your mouth.
  • It washes away food debris.
  • It neutralizes acids that can eat away at your tooth enamel.
  • It has antimicrobial content which can help fight the bacteria in your mouth.

This is actually why frequent snacking can be a problem because your saliva doesn’t get enough time to do its work.

What Can Be Done to Help?

If the medicine you are taking is optional or there is an alternative, I would speak to your dentist about the options you have, explaining the side effect that you are dealing with. If you can’t switch, there are steps you can take that will help. First, I would brush after each meal instead of just twice a day. Additionally, I suggest that you keep a water bottle with you in order to sip on throughout the day. Finally, if those do not help there are saliva substitutes that you can purchase over the counter. Just make sure they contain Carboxymethylcellulose, Hydroxyethylcellulose or Xylitol.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentist Dr. John Theriot.