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Dental News
Now that winter is almost here, having a dry mouth at night while sleeping is a common complaint for many Americans. According to Dr. Harold Katz, this is because during the colder months, most people spend far more time than indoors with very dry air courtesy of the heat provided by gas or oil furnaces. For those individuals who are exposed to this type of climate almost 24 hours a day for several months, extreme dry mouth can be the result.
How Dry Mouth Affects Your Oral Health
"Dry mouth causes bad breath and other dental problems because it becomes an ideal environment for bacteria to grow" says Dr. Katz. "They (bacteria) thrive and multiply in the warm dry recesses of the mouth. Once they have reproduced to such large numbers, even brushing and flossing may not be enough to completely eradicate them. Once these microbes have gotten a foothold in the mouth, they may begin to cause halitosis, gingivitis and tooth decay."
Leaving sugar in the mouth for extended periods of time can lead to an accumulation of sticky plaque on the teeth. This also encourages the growth of bacteria. Its effects may be worse than those of dry mouth in the long run.
How To Improve "Winter Dry Mouth"
Dental health experts agree that the most effective way to avoid this is to stay well hydrated and keep the mouth moist. HealthDay News recently reported that the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) recommends keeping water or other hydrating beverages handy at all times during the winter.
The NIDCR also suggests avoiding drinking beverages containing elements known to dehydrate the mouth (i.e. caffeine and alcohol) and consider running a humidifier (especially when sleeping) to help neutralize the effects of dry winter air. During the day, chewing gum is recommended for keeping your mouth moist.
With winter approaching, the problems of dry mouth loom large. Practicing the simple steps above aimed at eliminating the root causes of dry mouth will go a long way to improving your oral health as well as preventing halitosis during wintertime.
Related Blog Posts
Dry Mouth Linked To Prescription & Over The Counter Drugs ( July 12, 2009 )
How Often Should Teeth Be X-Rayed? ( October 7, 2007 )
Thursday, November 11, 2010
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hope this helps you. I had awful bad breath and tonsil stones. Thank god my only friend told me to check Oraltech Labs advice as it got rid of her bad breath and her post nasal drip. I've been following Oraltech Labs advice for about 4 months now and I feel much better, also at work people are not avoiding me anymore so it seems to have cured my bad breath as well, so good luck. Jenny NY
ReplyDeleteThat's why to avoid bad breath or dry mouth we should always check our dental health .. brush your teeth before going to sleep and always go for a check up with your dentist 1-2x a month
ReplyDeleteI don't know of any dental health professional who says you should see a dentist once or twice per month. I think you mean once or twice per year.
ReplyDeleteOne of the radiation therapy side effects of radiation therapy used to fight cancer is dry mouth (xerostomia). A dry mouth cure is important because your teeth and gum are vulnerable to disease.
ReplyDeleteThis is too much, I mean c'mon it can't get too bad during the winter and no alcohol or caffeine? I think just doing your regular brushing, flossing etc. would be more than enough
ReplyDeleteI am a new sufferer this complaint, so as yet I have nothing to offer regarding advice.
ReplyDeleteI have been an excessive coffee drinker. From today I am stopping. We will see if this
helps the situation.