Saliva is not a topic many people want to discuss. Before you say “Eww!”, let’s take a moment to discuss how important saliva is to your oral health. The primary job of saliva is to keep your mouth hydrated. This helps to clean your teeth and mouth of bacteria and food debris, and to make your food easier to chew and digest.

If your body does not make enough saliva, you may find yourself with a case of dry mouth. Dry mouth can be caused by any number of things. Certain diseases such as HIV/AIDS can lead to dry mouth, as well some medications. If you have had chemotherapy or radiation therapy, you may experience dry mouth. Dry mouth can also be caused by caffeine, or tobacco use, or it may be as simple as not getting enough water during the day. If you have dry or cracked lips, or a dry or sticky mouth, you could have a problem with dry mouth. Dry mouth can make speaking and eating more difficult and cause cavities.

If you are experiencing the symptoms of dry mouth, you should make an appointment with our dentists, Drs. Lembo and Jaffin at Belmont Dental Associates in Haledon, New Jersey. Our dentists may want to talk with your primary care physician about changing your medication. On the other hand, the solution may be as simple as drinking more water, doing a better job of brushing and flossing, or quitting tobacco or caffeine. To make an appointment give us a call at 973-790-4494 today.