While brushing your teeth can help prevent cavities and keep your teeth looking white and shiny, it can also prevent you from getting sick. People develop their dental hygiene habits at a young age, meaning both adults and children are at risk for health issues if they do not take proper care of their teeth. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one in four adults in the United States have untreated tooth decay, which can lead to future problems.
Because your oral hygiene impacts your overall health so significantly, it’s essential to see a dentist and solve any dental problems as soon as possible. At Rockland Dental Specialists, our team always puts your health and safety first. We understand the dentist can be an intimidating experience, so we use updated technology and methodologies in our relaxing offices to make you feel as comfortable as possible. Our compassionate specialists keep your best interests in mind and support you every step of the way so that you have the knowledge and tools to protect your well-being.
What Is Dry Mouth?
Dry mouth is a condition in which a person’s salivary glands do not produce enough saliva in the mouth. This can cause a person’s mouth to feel dry and almost sticky. Dry mouth also makes speaking, tasting, chewing, and even swallowing difficult for some people. Another symptom of dry mouth includes a rough tongue. Some people experience dryness in their throats as well. Having dry mouth is often uncomfortable, and it can negatively impact a person’s quality of life when it occurs frequently.
There are several different causes of dry mouth, so you may need to visit a dentist or a doctor to identify what is causing your dry mouth. Some common causes of dry mouth include:
- Stressful situations
- Sleeping with your mouth open
- Certain medications that reduce saliva production in the salivary glands
- Parkinson’s disease and diabetes
Also, if you are in the process of chemotherapy or radiation therapy, you will most likely experience dry mouth. Pinpointing the root cause of dry mouth may require the opinion of your dentist.
How Can I Treat Dry Mouth?
If you suffer from dry mouth, there are numerous steps you can take to treat and prevent the condition on your own. Dry mouth needs to be addressed because saliva is necessary for proper chewing, digestion, and overall oral health. The following are some of the most common dry mouth treatments you can implement:
- Avoiding caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, sugary drinks, and spicy foods
- Drinking water
- Chewing sugarless gum
- Using a humidifier
- Breathing through your nose
- Maintaining your oral health with brushing and flossing
- Avoiding mouthwashes with alcohol
- Visiting your dentist at least twice a year
The treatment options for dry mouth will also depend on what is causing the problem. If medication is causing your dry mouth, then your dentist or doctor may alter your dosage of that medication. Other treatments for dry mouth include using artificial saliva or using a medication that will assist the salivary glands in doing their job.
How Can Poor Dental Hygiene Make You Sick?
As you eat, drink, breathe, and talk throughout the day, your mouth continually houses hundreds of types of bacteria. While some of these bacteria help protect your mouth, others can feed on the sugar and starches in your teeth and produce acid that wears away at your enamel, which may result in tooth decay. If left untreated, tooth decay could lead to other oral health issues and cause other problems throughout the rest of your body.
If you don’t brush your teeth regularly, this harmful bacteria could stay in your mouth and continue to wear away at your teeth and gums. This could cause you to swallow this bacteria and allow it to affect other parts of your body. Therefore, your mouth can be the gateway for a multitude of health issues, so it’s crucial to practice proper dental hygiene and teach children these habits to avoid tooth decay and long-term conditions.
5 Conditions Associated With Poor Dental Hygiene
We understand it can be difficult to practice healthy dental hygiene with your busy schedule. However, neglecting your teeth and gums could make you more susceptible to the following conditions:
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- Diabetes: Those with diabetes are at a higher risk for gum disease. Poor dental hygiene may increase your chance of having insulin resistance and diabetes due to the inflammation these habits cause.
- Coronary artery disease: People with poor dental hygiene are vulnerable to gum disease, which could lead to coronary artery disease. This may occur due to bacteria entering your bloodstream and causing inflammation, which could also lead to clotting.
- Pneumonia: If you do not routinely brush and floss your teeth, the bacteria that build up in your mouth could enter your lungs and cause pneumonia.
- Pregnancy complications: Expecting mothers with poor dental hygiene risk passing bacteria to the placenta, which could cause inflammation and make their child more susceptible to cavities, preterm birth, and lower birth weight.
- Dementia: Those with poor oral hygiene may be at a higher risk for dementia. This may be due to the bacteria from the mouth spreading to the brain through the cranial nerve and the bloodstream.
These conditions can have a life-long impact and affect your future. If you experience symptoms of tooth decay and seek guidance from a skilled professional, our high;y-trained specialists are here to help you treat your condition, regardless of severity.
Three Ways Winter Can Affect Oral Health
Winter is coming! And with it, possibly the potential for some negative oral health effects. To be clear, it is not winter itself that affects oral health. But winter brings with it changes in diet and routine that can affect the health of the teeth and gums. Here are three important ways that can happen.
Holiday Sweets and Drinks Increase the Risk for Cavities
Winter is full of holidays to celebrate. Most Americans enjoy more sweet treats, like holiday cookies and candy, this time of year. Many also increase their intake of “fun” drinks like hot cocoa, flavored coffees (white chocolate peppermint mocha, anyone?), and wine.
This uptick in sugar intake carries with it an increase in the risk for cavities. Bacteria in dental plaque, called Streptococcus mutans, eat sugar as their primary fuel source. The by-product of that sugar is an acid that softens and weakens tooth enamel, allowing the bacteria to break through and dissolve hard tooth structure.
Cavities destroy tooth structure and require dental treatment to repair. You can avoid them by practicing great oral hygiene at home to remove dental plaque.
Increased Risk for Dry Mouth
Many people drink less water in the winter than in the summer. It is a matter of feeling less thirsty when someone is cold than when he is hot. We also may drink more coffee and/or alcohol, which both have a dehydrating effect on the body. When your body is dehydrated by inadequate water intake, it cannot make enough saliva.
A dry mouth is not a healthy mouth. Saliva plays an important role in protecting the teeth and gums from dangerous, disease-causing bacteria in dental plaque. Without it, the risk for both cavities and gum disease rises sharply!
Fight the risk of dry mouth by drinking plenty of plain water during the cold months. Your body needs water to make enough saliva. You can also stimulate the natural production of saliva by chewing sugar-free gum. This helps to neutralize the pH in the mouth and reduce the stickiness of dental plaque.
Holiday Stress Causing Teeth Clenching and/or Grinding
It is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year. But for many, the holiday season is the most stressful time of the year. Schedules become busier with events multiple evenings each week. There is the added burden of purchasing Christmas gifts for loved ones.
The cold weather may lead to increased isolation for many people. For some, winter is a stressful time. With stress often comes increased muscle tension. In the mouth, that muscle tension may manifest as clenching or grinding of the teeth.
When we clench or grind the teeth, we put excessively heavy forces onto them. Our teeth and jaws are not able to withstand more than normal chewing forces without suffering damage.
For some, the forces of clenching and grinding may crack or break the teeth themselves. Others notice a gradual shortening and flattening of their teeth. Some patients suffer receding gums as the result of heavy clenching and grinding.
We often see patients with headaches and facial pain due to hyperactive muscles in the jaws. Some also have pain and degeneration in the jaw joints (TMJs) from these excessive forces.
If you find yourself clenching during the day, we can guarantee that you are also doing it at night while you sleep. The great news is that you can prevent the damage to your teeth, gums, and joints by wearing a protective mouthguard.
Reach Out to a Skilled Professional at Rockland Dental Specialists in New City, NY
If you do not practice optimal dental hygiene, you may be nervous to see a dentist and hear their feedback about your oral health. Our caring team at Rockland Dental Specialists understands these worries and does everything we can to give you a stress-free experience. We implement the latest technology and solutions to prioritize your health and renew your confidence in your smile.
With over 24 years of experience in the industry, you can trust us to provide valuable guidance and create an effective treatment based on your condition and health history. We offer 24/7 availability so that you never feel alone and always have someone to answer your questions. Furthermore, we provide free insurance verifications and custom payment plans so you can receive treatment at an affordable price. To schedule a consultation, call (845) 259-2500 or fill out our contact form.
