WHAT SENIORS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DRY MOUTH

Seniors often experience a variety of dental issues—such as bruxism, root canal infections, and receding gums—and they often believe these are normal conditions that come with advancing age. This is a damaging mistake, and seniors can risk various conditions by ignoring uncommon dental changes. Dry mouth is a common condition that senior adults do not realize can be a serious concern. Read on for more information about seniors and dry mouth.

As seen in the video, dry mouth occurs when there is a low production of saliva. Low saliva can increase risks of tooth decay and gum disease. Seniors may experience dry mouth if there is a problem with their saliva glands, which can come from taking medications and developing Sjogren’s Syndrome. Dry mouth can also occur due to cancer treatments. If there are any abnormal oral symptoms, seniors should speak with their dentist right away.