Dry Mouth

Dry Mouth in South Brunswick

Do you have dry mouth and live near the South Brunswick, NJ area? Treatment for dry mouth depends on what is causing the problem. Generally, treatment of a dry mouth focuses on three areas:

  1. Managing underlying medical conditions causing the dry mouth
  2. Preventing tooth decay
  3. Increasing the flow of saliva, where possible

Managing underlying causes of dry mouth

Dry mouth is a common side effect of certain drugs, including medication used to treat depression, anxiety, pain, allergies, diarrhea, urinary incontinence, and Parkinson’s disease. In these cases, you should speak to your doctor about trying a different medication or adjusting the dosage. However, if the underlying medical condition causing the dry mouth cannot be changed or is a consequence of a disease itself, our treatment for dry mouth in South Brunswick, NJ will focus on ways to increase saliva flow.

Preventing tooth decay due to dry mouth

As well as helping you digest food and making it possible for you to chew and swallow, saliva is a natural mouth cleanser that helps to protect against tooth decay and gum disease. If you have a dry mouth, you need to be scrupulous about maintaining good oral hygiene habits. These include brushing and flossing your teeth twice daily, using toothpaste that contains fluoride, and having professional dental checkups and cleanings at least twice a year. At Doctors of Dental Medicine, regular dental exams are a crucial part of how we treat dry mouth when you live near South Brunswick, NJ. We may recommend daily use of a fluoride rinse or fluoride gel to keep your teeth healthy.

Increasing saliva flow for people with dry mouth

To help you combat dry mouth, we may recommend the use of artificial saliva products, which are available over-the-counter in a rinse or spray. There are also many toothpastes, mouthwashes, and moisturizing gels specially formulated for dry mouth, and we can discuss the options which might work best for you. Your doctor can also prescribe Salagen, a drug that increases the natural production of saliva.

To speak to us about treating and managing your dry mouth if you live near South Brunswick, NJ, please contact us to book a consultation today.