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Young woman drinking water for dry mouth with braces.

Why You Get Dry Mouth with Braces & How You Can Treat It

Xerostomia, more commonly known as dry mouth, is a frustrating condition that results from a lack of saliva in your mouth. While mild dry mouth symptoms are simply annoying, chronic dry mouth can become a source for dental health problems. Dry mouth with braces is particularly common – especially during the early stages of orthodontic treatment.

If you have new braces and are suffering from dry mouth, read on to learn more about what’s causing it and how you can reduce its effects.

What Causes Dry Mouth with Braces?

There are dozens of reasons that you could be experiencing dry mouth. Illness, lack of sleep, poor diet and many other causes can all lead to acute dry mouth. For those undergoing orthodontic treatment, however, the cause is usually obvious: your braces are irritating your mouth.

While braces positively impact your oral health, they are still a foreign object on your teeth. Your body responds to this foreign object by trying to prevent it from harming you. Sometimes this can lead to issues like painful mouth sores.

One common side-effect of this irritation is that your gums will swell. This swelling then limits your saliva production, ultimately leading to dry mouth symptoms.

Not everyone with braces will have dry mouth. The intensity and length of dry mouth symptoms varies from person to person. You may have it for just a few days, or upwards of a few months.

Symptoms of Dry Mouth

Along with the obvious feeling of dryness in your mouth, some of the other major symptoms of chronic dry mouth include:

  • Excessive thirst
  • Dry throat
  • Burning tongue
  • Bad Breath
  • Dry Nasal Passage
  • Hoarseness

Dry mouth symptoms can make certain tasks harder, such as speaking, chewing or swallowing. Be careful when you’re eating to avoid choking from food caught in your throat!

Why Dry Mouth with Braces Is Cause for Concern

If you occasionally have acute cases of dry mouth with your braces, you may only see it as a mild inconvenience. However, xerostomia puts your mouth at risk for serious infections like thrush, and can dramatically increase your chance to develop gum disease.

For those new to wearing braces, your mouth is already dealing with an irritant. The addition of dry mouth will likely lead to an increase in inflammation, which is often associated with gum disease.

Chronic dry mouth also reduces your natural defenses against tooth decay. Without saliva to help wash away food particles and bacteria, your teeth will develop more cavities in shorter time. This is one reason it’s important to continue your dental care routine when wearing braces – especially if you have dry mouth.

What Can You Do to Counteract Dry Mouth with Braces?

If you have chronic dry mouth, there are ways that you can treat or lessen the effects. These temporary solutions can help you prevent the health impacts from a perpetually dry mouth, though they won’t necessarily cure the underlying cause.

#1. Use Ice Chips

One of the most commonly recommended remedy for dry mouth is chewing gum or sucking on hard candies. Gum and candy will promote saliva production temporarily, which can help restore moisture to your mouth naturally. Unfortunately, if you have dry mouth with braces, these options aren’t available to you, as they’re a risk to any type of braces you may be wearing.

Instead, you can suck on soft ice chips to soothe dry mouth discomfort and moisten your mouth. Remember not to chew on them, as it may be a risk to your braces.

#2. Drink More Water

Water is not a great substitute for saliva – but it’s better than nothing! It won’t help balance the pH levels in your mouth, but it will help keep your teeth and gums cleaner. Frequently drinking water when you have dry mouth will wash away some of the food particle and bacteria in your mouth.

Another major benefit of drinking water is that it can help restore moisture to your throat. For those that feel hoarse or have a sore throat, you’ll feel much better after a refreshing glass of water. Plus, food is less likely to get stuck in your throat when it’s not dry and sticky!

#3. Breathe Through Your Nose

Breathing through your mouth can push the small amount of remaining moisture out, exacerbating your xerostomia. It’s also quite uncomfortable! If you can, try to breathe through your nose as much as possible. This will let the air bypass your mouth.

Unfortunately, there’s nothing you can do about the airflow impacting the moisture of your throat – you’ll still feel hoarse if you were before.

#4. Use Artificial Saliva

There are a few saliva substitutes available to help you treat your dry mouth. Some are available over-the-counter, but your dentist or orthodontist can recommend an option that will work for you. You can find artificial saliva that’s applied in a variety of ways, including a swishing fluid, a spray, or even gels.

Substitutes, like water, won’t be as ideal as your natural saliva. However, they are designed to keep your mouth’s moisture levels higher and fight against the risks associated with chronic dry mouth. Because you likely can’t use gum or candy to stimulate saliva, this may be a good option to prevent issues with discomfort.

If you plan to travel, consider adding a bottle of artificial saliva to your travel braces kit.

#5. Run a Humidifier When You Sleep

Some cases of xerostomia happen primarily overnight. Are you waking up with dry mouth in the morning, or in the middle of the night? If so, run a humidifier when you go to bed. The additional moisture in your room will help promote moisture in your mouth.

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Are you experiencing dry mouth with your braces? Find out how we can help by scheduling a free consultation! Contact us online or call 440-842-8015.

 

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