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Dry Mouth 101

February 09, 2016

If you have been finding your mouth uncomfortably dry, you may be suffering from xerostomia. There are many different factors that might contribute to this dental complication, from your age to the medications you take. Watch this video clip to learn a little bit about dry mouth.

Xerostomia might stem from a multitude of different causes. Saliva production steadily declines after the age of 25, making elderly individuals more susceptible to dry mouth. Senior citizens are actually among the most vulnerable; in addition to being older in age, these people tend to take more medication. Just about every medication comes with some sort of potential side effect, and dry mouth is one of the most common. Using substances like alcohol, marijuana, or tobacco can also contribute to dry mouth. Although some types of mouthwash can help the bad breath that dry mouth leaves you with, avoid those that contain alcohol.