Give Your Dry Tongue the Dental Attention It Deserves
Any health problem you ignore can grow into something major and cause more distress to you. Most people fear the major dental problems such as gum bleeding, toothache, mouth sores and tooth decay, among others. However, most of them find a dry tongue a simple problem, and they don't even bother to ask their dentist if having a dry tongue is associated with any dental problem. A dry tongue is a dental problem you shouldn't ignore even if it's not painful. Here's why you should take your dry tongue seriously:
Indicates a Different Health Problem
A person with a dry tongue could be suffering from a health problem they don't know about. Most of the diseases that develop when the body attacks its own tissues -- autoimmune diseases -- have a dry tongue as one of the symptoms. The disease aggravates and causes more damage when you take longer to contact a dentist to treat the dry tongue condition. Injuries to the neck and head nerves and chronic medical conditions such as diabetes influence decreased saliva production, leading to a dry tongue. A dentist evaluates the dry tongue to see if it's due to some superficial causes or due to a serious disease developing in the body.
Leads to Cavity Formation
The saliva in your mouth effectively knocks down the bacteria responsible for cavity formation in your mouth. It's hard to regulate your oral pH and maintain a healthy one without adequate saliva. Cavities form when the acid-loving bacteria erode the vital minerals of your enamel. Besides rinsing the food particles that stick to the teeth in the mouth, saliva also denies the acid-bacteria a favourable environment. That dry tongue means that your mouth isn't producing adequate saliva that protects your teeth. That's why your teeth develop cavities and subject you to some other major oral issues.
Worsens Halitosis
Bacterial activities in the mouth cause halitosis and the tongue happens to be the breeding ground for the bacteria. If you thought that the saliva in your mouth is just meant to hydrate your mouth, look at it again more carefully. Your saliva also rinses away fungi, bacteria and other pathogens that cause oral health problems. Saliva production slows down at night, and that's why you wake up to the dreaded morning breath. People with fungal infections such as candidiasis develop a dry tongue, and it gets worse if they don't see a certified dentist in good time.
People who visit their dentist regularly for dental checkups reduce dry tongue risks by a big percentage. Your dentist knows the immediate and long-term relief your dry tongue needs. Some people ignore their dry tongue and assume that the problem will end by itself. Give your dry tongue the seriousness it deserves and avoid numerous oral health problems.