Don't Suffer from Dry Mouth
  1. Several salivary glands in your mouth produce saliva. Specifically, the parotid, submandibular, sublingual, and minor salivary glands. The parotid gland is located high inside your cheek and secretes saliva right above your maxillary (top) molars. The sublingual gland is under your tongue. The submandibular gland rests deep down by your mandible (lower jaw bone) and secretes saliva under your tongue as well.
  2. “Xerostomia” is the dental term we use for dry mouth. Pronounced “Zer-oh-stoh-me-uh”, xerostomia is the biggest risk factor for cavities. Find out why next!
  3. Your spit protects your teeth. Almost 99% water, it has other components that help rinse and protect your teeth, lubricate your gums, aid in being able to taste food, as well as the beginning stages of digestion.
  4. Healthy mouths produce about 1.5L of saliva a day. That’s close to half a gallon a day and 144 gallons a year (the average bathtub holds about 70 gallons).
  5. Medication can affect your amount of saliva. Medications, most commonly antidepressants, blood pressure medication, and allergy medication can cause dry mouth, putting you at a higher risk for cavities and bad breath. Some medical conditions can cause dry mouth as well. If you feel like you have xerostomia, schedule an appointment here at Spokane Dental in Spokane Washington today and we can assess your oral health and make a game plan with recommendations on how to get your saliva flowing!