Tooth decay is often mistakenly thought of as an ailment that only happens to children. In reality, everyone can experience it, even seniors. In fact, many seniors are at higher risk for tooth decay for one simple reason; a lack of saliva production. Saliva does not naturally begin to decrease as we get older, but if illness or medication is a factor in a senior’s life, chances are the saliva production is decreased. With less saliva, bacteria has a better chance at remaining on a senior’s teeth, making the presence of cavities much more prevalent.
Telltale Signs of a Dry Mouth
Dry mouth can occur for a variety of reasons including:
The most common symptoms of a dry mouth include the constant need to drink, bad breath, difficulty talking clearly and a dry feeling in the mouth or throat.
Dealing with a Dry Mouth
There are certain steps that we can take to try to fight the signs and symptoms of a dry mouth:
Taking care of our dry mouth can help to eliminate oral health and even some physical health problems. Our saliva is needed for proper digestion of food as well as to keep food particles away from our teeth. When we suffer from chronic dry mouth, it is important to talk to the dentist to enhance our oral and physical health.
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