Seniors

At Boroondara Dental, we offer a caring and respectful environment to the elderly with wheelchair access and longer appointment times if necessary. We take the extra time required with older people so they fully understand their needs and expectations and prescribe treatment solutions that are in their best interests.

Dry Mouth

As we get older, the number of medications we are taking increases for a variety of health conditions. Dry mouth can be attributed to many medications but can also be caused by stress, anxiety, smoking, excessive coffee consumption and dehydration.

For some patients, dry mouth is an ongoing and concerning condition that can range from mild to severe, causing discomfort, difficulty with speech, eating and swallowing, whilst having a substantial negative impact on your oral health.

Saliva is one of the most important aspects for maintaining good oral health. It neutralises acid produced from eating and drinking, forms a protective barrier on your tooth enamel and contains natural antibacterial properties to control the bacteria within your mouth, it can also help to reverse the early stages of tooth decay. A lack of saliva or saliva of poor quality can make teeth more vulnerable to plaque build-up, decay and gum disease. It can also be the cause of bad breath (halitosis).

The most common causes of dry mouth can be linked to a vast number of prescribed as well as over-the-counter medications including:

  • Antidepressants
  • Antihistamines
  • Anticholinergics
  • Antihypertensive
  • Diuretics
  • Antipsychotics

Other causes of dry mouth can include

  • Radiotherapy to the head and neck
  • Chemotherapy
  • Diabetes
  • Thyroid dysfunction
  • Hypertension
  • Kidney dialysis
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Parkinsons disease
  • Stroke
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Lupus disease

If you experience dry mouth, are undergoing radiotherapy treatment or have constant bad breath, you should schedule an appointment at Boroondara Dental for an assessment.