{"id":195,"date":"2017-12-13T01:10:06","date_gmt":"2017-12-13T06:10:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cypressspringsdental.com\/blog\/?p=195"},"modified":"2019-08-16T01:20:36","modified_gmt":"2019-08-16T05:20:36","slug":"dry-mouth-nothing-to-spit-at","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cypressspringsdental.com\/blog\/dry-mouth-nothing-to-spit-at\/","title":{"rendered":"Dry Mouth: Nothing to Spit At"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Can you imagine a 2-liter bottle of your favorite soda? Now imagine that same bottle filled with spit. That\u2019s approximately how much saliva the average adult produces in their mouth every day! It may be gross, but it\u2019s definitely important. Saliva is a normal body fluid that\u2019s crucial for oral health and overall wellness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you struggle to make enough saliva, your mouth will feel very dry and you will have trouble with daily activities like speaking, eating, and swallowing. This condition is commonly known as dry mouth, but the clinical name is xerostomia. A chronically dry mouth is uncomfortable and unhealthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You have three salivary glands in different parts of your jaw that make and secrete saliva. Saliva is mostly made of water, but it also contains important molecules called enzymes that help keep your mouth clean and fight infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dry mouth is common and can usually be fixed with the help of your Cypress dentist and doctor. Dr. Todd shares more below about what causes dry mouth and how to treat it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n
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What causes dry mouth?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When your salivary glands don\u2019t produce enough saliva, there\u2019s not enough moisture in your mouth and it becomes overly dry. Dry mouth can be a random side effect of prescription medicine or a sign that there\u2019s something actually wrong with your salivary glands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Common causes of dry mouth are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prescription medication<\/li>
Nerve damage in your mouth from an impact or injury<\/li>
Smoking<\/li>
Chemotherapy and radiation<\/li>
Extreme dehydration<\/li>
Other health conditions<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s important to talk with your primary care provider to determine what exactly is causing your dry mouth. Your body is a complex machine with many interconnected parts that all work together to keep you healthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What are the side effects of dry mouth?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The importance of saliva goes beyond just your mouth. The water and enzymes in saliva are necessary for good breathing, digestion, immunity, and oral health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Common side effects of dry mouth include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dry (scratchy, painful) nasal passages and throat<\/li>
![\"Dry](\"https:\/\/cypressspringsdental.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Screen-Shot-2019-08-16-at-1.19.19-PM.png\")
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