Spit Is It!

WHAT IS SO IMPORTANT ABOUT SPIT?   SALIVA IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT ISN'T MISSED UNTIL IT IS GONE.   IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO THE HEALTH OF  YOUR MOUTH AND YOUR BODY.  SALIVA REMOVES  WASTE PRODUCTS, HELPS THE MOUTH FIGHT DISEASE, AND MAINTAINS LUBICATION FOR SPEAKING, EATING AND CHEWING.    XEROSTOMIA IS LACK OF  OR REDUCED SPIT!  WITHOUT IT WE CAN EASILY GET CAVITIES, SEVERE WEARING OF ENAMEL, MOUTH FUNGUS (CANDIDIASIS) AND BACTERIAL INFECTIONS.   ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE POPULATION IS GOING TO HAVE DRY MOUTH- IT IS CAUSED BY OVER  1800 MEDICATONS AND MORE ARE BEING FOUND EVERY DAY.  COMMON MEDICATONS  ARE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATIONS, SEDATIVES AND TRANQUILIZERS, ANTIHISTAMINES, MUSCLE RELAXERS, ANTIDEPRESSANTS, DIURETICS, AND MANY MANY MORE.  WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT?  KEEPING YOUR MOUTH HEALTHY, CLEAN AND DRINKING LOTS OF WATER IS A GREAT START.   AVOID DIRECT AIR FLOW FROM FANS AND AIR
CONDITIONING.  TOBACCO USE DRIES THE MOUTH AND SMOKERS ARE 7X MORE LIKELY TO HAVE GUM DISEASE.  CAFFIENE DRIES THE MOUTH .  WHAT CAN CAN BE DONE?  CHECK WITH YOUR M.D. TO SEE IF ANY OF THE MEDICATIONS CAN BE CHANGED OR ALTERED IN THE  AMOUNTS.   THERE ARE MANY COMMERCIALY AVAILABLE WETTING AGENTS  FOR THE MOUTH- THERE ARE SPRAYS, RINSES, GELS, LOZENGES, AND SALIVARY SUBSTITUTES -TALK TO YOUR DENTIST!!