Millions of Americans are suffering from a mysterious condition that has been found to affect all of the body’s moisture producing glands. This condition can sound very confusing and even frightening for some. Here we take a look at what are a few reasons this disease makes it difficult to maintain a healthy mouth.
Eating Problems
The enzymes in your saliva are a very important part of digestion, so having a dry mouth can complicate the entire process. Chewing food can become really tricky when you don’t have enough moisture to break it down and swallow comfortably. When there is a lack of saliva, the best thing to do it to take frequent sips of water and take slow, small bites. Patients with dry mouth cannot tolerate spicy or bitter foods either, so our best advice is to avoid them.
Increased Decay
Saliva acts like a mineral bath for our teeth and without enough of it, the hard shell of enamel becomes weak and pitted. Every time we eat or drink, the pH balance in our mouth drops, creating an acidic environment. In order to offset the damage that plaque and food acids create, it’s very important to rinse regularly with water and allow the teeth to stay hydrated.
Sensitivity
Most Sjogren sufferers will tell you that they are sensitive to many things including bright lights, certain types of foods and even specific types of clothing materials. Teeth tend to become sensitive to many toothpastes and cold water, making it hard to stick with a good brushing routine. The worst thing you can do is let damaging plaque bacteria and acids to remain untouched.
Sjogren’s patients need special considerations when they visit our office but it doesn’t mean that this condition isn’t manageable. We can suggest and provide special fluoride products, give tips and tricks on brushing and flossing well, and keep you on track with regular dental visits to prevent decay and infection.