Rain is good for your teeth!
I hope you are all having a good summer. My plants are really enjoying this rainy weather. The bright red leafy plants I bought half dead at Home Depot are now thriving and threatening to crowd out my palms!
The rain reminds me that water and moisture are necessary for all living things. This (surprisingly) includes your teeth!
I am amazed at the number of patients I see who suffer from some type of dry mouth. They see it as mildly annoying. They are often unaware of how destructive this condition can be.
Dry mouth is one of the many side effects of medications, but it can also be the result of a medical condition. People with autoimmune diseases often experience symptoms of dry mouth.
There are two different types of salivary glands: one type produces a thick (mucin) secretion while another produces a more liquid (serous) secretion. One of the salivary glands produces both.
Saliva in adequate amounts is vitally necessary, not only for the first stage of digestion, it is also responsible for protecting teeth from bacteria, viruses and fungi. If the salivary glands do not keep enough moisture in the mouth, bacteria cannot be washed off the surface of the teeth. The bacteria then create a sticky glue that allows them to adhere securely to the teeth, where they proceed to pour acid onto the tooth and dissolve the enamel.
This damage can occur anywhere on the tooth, but is most commonly seen at the gum line. Damage can occur within a few weeks. If left untreated, the entire tooth can erode and the nerve to the tooth can die.
I have seen patients deteriorate seriously in just six months after starting a new medication. Previously cavity-free patients suddenly require multiple fillings and sometimes even root canals!
How do you prevent this problem? There are many products on the market designed to restore moisture to the mouth and help prevent bacterial infections of the teeth and gums. The most effective products contain moisture in addition to xylitol.
Xylitol is a non-nutritive sweetener that has the added benefit of interfering with the “glue” that bacteria produce to anchor themselves to teeth. And if the bacteria can’t stick to the tooth, they can’t remove the acid that causes tooth decay. See how it works?
As usual, keeping your regular hygiene appointments will help your dentist spot dry mouth symptoms before it’s too late, but you don’t have to wait for the dentist to fix this problem right away.
If you’re worried about dry mouth, head to your nearest health food store and look for gum sweetened with xylitol and a product called “Rain” (just like our beautiful summer weather). Both are easy to find, inexpensive, and easy to use. spent. The rain comes in a spray bottle and can be sprayed into the mouth as many times as needed. I recommend several times a day. Chewing gum with Xylitol (there are several brands) stimulates the salivary glands and prevents those annoying bacteria from sticking to your teeth. Bad for bacteria, but good for you.
Dry mouth can be devastating to your teeth, luckily the solution is simple, easy to use and inexpensive.
If that were true for those pesky weeds…