Making the Dry Mouth-Bad Breath Connection

Current medical research indicates that there is a very real link between dry mouth and halitosis. If you suffer from chronic halitosis, there may be a chance that you also suffer from dry mouth. If you treat the symptoms of dry mouth, you may also be able to treat the symptoms of halitosis. Making the dry mouth-bad breath connection may seem obvious, but many patients tend to overlook this connection, or not make the connection at all until a medical professional diagnoses their dry mouth.

What is Dry Mouth, Anyways?

Even if you don't understand exactly the mechanics of dry mouth, you probably already have a clear sense of this condition if you have suffered from it for any lenght of time. But just in case you are not so sure, dry mouth is a condition that can essentially be seen as a substantial decrease in the flow of saliva. Dry mouth may be associated with many other conditions as well, including bouts with dehydration, panic or anxiety, prescription drug use, parotitis, vitamin deficiency and radiation therapy that affects the area of the salivary glands. Sometimes dry mouth is referred to in medical terms as xerostomia, hyposalivation, or asialorrhea.

Do You Have Dry Mouth – Who is More Susceptible to This Aggravating Condition?

If you are experiencing dry mouth, there is a good chance that you already know that you have it. But it is useful to understand the other symptoms of this condition. Dry mouth is caused when the salivary glands are not producing enough saliva. Dry mouth can also often be a side effect of taking some kind of medication. Dry mouth can often also be a side effect of being under medical treatment. Some patients will also experience dry mouth for no apparent reason.

The Medical Consequences of Dry Mouth

Although this condition may not seem like a terribly urgent medical problem, it has been known to cause halitosis. it can cause mouth decays and lead to tooth decay, and it can affect nutrition. Dry mouth can also be indicative of a more serious underlying health condition. However, most people will experience dry mouth at some point in their life. In fact, studies indicate that older individuals are more prone to experience the symptoms of dry mouth.

The Bad Diet and Dry Mouth Connection

Did you know that dry mouth can lead you to eat the wrong kinds of foods? Research has shown that dry mouth can actually lead individuals to avoid eating certain kinds of foods. One recent research study found that people experiencing dry mouth were generally not consuming the right nutrients. In studies, patients with dry mouth tended to avoid foods that are rich in important nutrients. Patients with dry mouth tended to be lacking in thiamin, vitamin A, vitamin B6, potassium, calcium, iron, fiber and zinc. Why is this so? Because individuals with dry mouth tended to avoid spicy or acidic foods. These include foods such as oranges, which can be painful to eat when you are suffering from dry mouth.