When Medications Leave Your Mouth Dry
Dr. Sher prides himself on helping patients feel and look their best by providing the finest dental care and the latest technology. Whether a routine dental visit or a cosmetic procedure, Dr. Sher treats a variety of dental conditions in his practice.
Is your medication leaving you with that dry, “cotton mouth” feeling? Dry mouth is a common side effect of many medications, such as antihistamines, decongestants, analgesics (pain relievers), and diuretics. Also as we age, the amount of salivary flow can diminish significantly, causing dry mouth as well.
This seemingly harmless annoyance can cause constant sore throat problems with speaking, hoarseness, or dry nasal passages. Even more importantly, did you know that persistent dry mouth can damage your teeth? Without enough saliva to wash away food debris and dilute the acids formed from plaque, your teeth might be subject to rapid and severe decay.
To minimize your risk when dry mouth is a problem for you, we suggest the following:
- Frequently sip water to lubricate your mouth.
- Suck on sugar-free hard candy to stimulate saliva. Never, ever use hard candy that contains sugar, which will increase decay problems!
- Take special care of your teeth by brushing after every meal and flossing daily.
- Ask your dentist about using topical fluoride as part of your oral care routine
- See your dentist for frequent checkups and cleanings, so we can catch any problem in its earliest stage.
Jay Sher DDS, FAGD
154 S. Livingston Ave. Suite 104
Livingston, NJ 07039
973-992-4770
About Jay Sher, DDS, FAGD
Dr. Sher prides himself on helping patients feel and look their best by providing the finest dental care and the latest technology. Whether a routine dental visit or a cosmetic procedure, Dr. Sher treats a variety of dental conditions in his practice.
