After you eat a meal or a snack your mouth continues to keep producing saliva to help loosen food particles. Individuals dealing with chronic dry mouth issues are thus at increased risk of tooth decay and gum disease resulting from leftover food particles in the mouth.
If the cause of chronic dry mouth cannot be immediately treated, or it is linked to a side effect from a prescription medication a dentist like Dr. Letitia M. Williams might recommend occasionally chewing a sugarless gum.
Artificial sweeteners like maltitol, mannitol, sorbitol and the alcohol sugar known as xylitol are typically used to sweeten sugarless chewing gum. These substances have been proven to not promote bacterial growth.
It’s important to keep in mind that the simple act of chewing sugarless gum is not a viable alternative for brushing or flossing your teeth. It can simply help loosen stray food particles while possibly stimulating additional saliva production.
If you have not yet determined the underlying cause of your chronic dry mouth problem, you should strongly consider seeking professional diagnosis at our office. In some of these cases, the reduced saliva production might be linked to a potentially serious oral health problem.
If you are in the Union Springs, Alabama, area and you have an oral hygiene concern, can always call 334.377.3778 to schedule a dental checkup with Dr. Letitia M. Williams and her staff.