Sjorgen's Syndrome

Many systemic medical conditions affect your dental health. A common one is Sjorgen’s Syndrome. This is an autoimmune disorder where the body attacks the tear and saliva glands. After a while, the glands stop working entirely. If you notice that your mouth is chronically dry, no matter what you do, schedule an appointment with Dr. Kathleen Falsey right away. Bayberry Dental Care works with you to manage your symptoms. Learn more by contacting our office in Tinley Park, IL.

 

There is a large list of symptoms that accompany Sjorgen’s Syndrome. Here are the ones that commonly affect your dental health:

 

-Chronic cough

-Difficulties swallowing

-Dry lips, throat, and mouth

-A hoarse or scratchy voice

-Frequent cavities or oral infections

-Swollen salivary glands in the face and neck

 

There is no known cause for Sjorgen’s Syndrome. Research points towards an individual’s genes or the body’s reaction to certain germs. Don’t give up hope! Just because we don’t know the cause doesn’t mean we don’t offer a cure. A diagnosis is the first step. Your Tinley Park, IL, dentist will measure your salivary flow and glands. Dr. Falsey also treats any other issues like cavities.

 

Treatment depends entirely upon you and your symptoms. Certain medications control your body’s immune response. Your dentist focuses more on helping your oral symptoms. For your dry mouth, you need to increase your salivary production. Talk to your dentist about Artificial Saliva, which keeps your mouth moist. Over-the-counter products like toothpaste and mouthwash also target dry mouth.

 

Bayberry Dental Care is located in Tinley Park, IL. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kathleen Falsey, call 708-802-8300 or visit her website at https://www.bayberrydentalcare.com/.

Dry Mouth

Dr. Kathleen Falsey of Bayberry Dental Care provides quality dental treatment in the Tinley Park, IL, area. This includes the treatment of Xerostomia, commonly referred to as Dry Mouth. This condition makes it incredibly difficult to undertake all everyday tasks. This includes simple things like chewing, swallowing, and speaking. Dry mouth lowers your quality of life while putting your dental health at risk. Contact our office right away if you’re struggling with dry mouth.

 

Your saliva plays an important role in your everyday life. It’s not just for eating and speaking! It’s necessary for your dental health. Saliva cleans your mouth while removing food debris. Without your salivary glands functioning correctly, you’re at risk for plaque and tooth decay. That’s why it’s important to schedule an appointment with your Tinley Park, IL, dentist right away.

 

Determining the cause of your dry mouth is the first step. Be forthright with Dr. Falsey about your medical history and current medications. There are over 500 different medications that cause dry mouth. Examine all pharmaceuticals thoroughly, even ones that appear harmless. Dr. Falsey might recommend that you talk to your physician about switching prescriptions. Another common cause is autoimmune disorders. Certain conditions, like Sjögren's syndrome, are known for creating dry mouth. You should also examine any medical treatments you’re receiving. Chemotherapy, for example, is known for causing dry mouth.

 

Treatment depends entirely on the cause. There are a few general tips for reducing dry mouth symptoms. First, the best way to accomplish this is by reducing your sugar intake. Sugar is infamous for drying out your mouth. Cut back on drinking soda, tea, alcohol, and coffee. Replace these with water. Drinking more H2O keeps your mouth fresh and moist. There are also over-the-counter dry mouth treatments. You can find these at your local supermarket or grocery store. They are available in toothpaste, mouthwash, and gel form.

 

Bayberry Dental Care is located in Tinley Park, IL. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kathleen Falsey, visit our website or call 708-802-8300.

Asthma and Tooth Decay

We work hard a Bayberry Dental Care to assist patients with particular dental health needs. If you struggle with asthma, you may be at increased risk for developing caries and other oral infections. With respect and a gentle touch, we’ll teach you how to manage this condition and reverse decay you may already be suffering.

In people with asthma, the throat and nasal tissues are swollen. Due to difficulty breathing through their noses, they may resort to mouth breathing, particularly while asleep. This significantly increases their risk of dry mouth, also known as xerostomia. Saliva doesn’t just make swallowing food debris easier, it also neutralizes the acid that oral bacteria secrete and that is transferred to teeth from drinks such as soda. Keeping the mouth at a neutral pH level also makes it less hospitable to fungus.

A patient suffering from dry mouth may benefit from using artificial throat moisturizers. They can also stimulate saliva production by chewing sugar-free gum and increasing their water intake. While it is inadvisable to stop taking asthma medications without a doctor’s advice, patients may want to ask about alternatives if their medication is causing dry mouth as a side effect. They should also be aware that throat muscle relaxants can open the sphincter to the stomach, allowing acid reflux to occur, and that inhalant medication commonly contains sugars that will need to be brushed off teeth prior to bed.

Kathleen M. Falsey, D.D.S., operates Bayberry Dental Care at 8014 West 171^st St, Tinley Park, Illinois, 60477. To schedule an appointment, call 708-802-8300 or visit Bayberry Dental Care and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Bad Breath and Oral Health

If you have chronically bad breath, there may be more to it than just what you eat. At Bayberry Dental Care in Tinley Park, we are concerned with the relationship between oral health and the rest of the body. Halitosis, or bad breath, could be an indicator of an issue related to oral infection or a condition with consequences for the oral cavity.

When food particles get trapped, the bacteria that consume them give off a foul odor. Bacteria can also eat things we wouldn’t find appetizing, such as nasal drip that lands on the tongue. For that reason, patients should use a tongue scraper each day and brush their tongue along with their teeth. They may also want to try antibacterial mouthwash, which comes in nonalcoholic varieties for children.

Halitosis can also be caused by dry mouth. Saliva neutralizes acid and helps wash away food debris. Medications commonly cause dry mouth as a side effect. Patients should ask their doctor about changing them if this is causing bad breath and caries, but they should not stop taking medication on their own. An autoimmune disorder could cause the salivary glands to become inflamed, preventing them from secreting adequate saliva. Diabetes can also contribute to bad breath due to changes it causes in how the body breaks down chemicals, as well as its suppression of the immune system and diabetic people’s resulting vulnerability to gum disease. This becomes less of an issue when insulin levels are controlled.

Kathleen M. Falsey, D.D.S., operates Bayberry Dental Care at 8014 West 171^st St, Tinley Park, Illinois, 60477. To schedule an appointment, call 708-802-8300 or visit Bayberry Dental Care and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Dry Mouth (Xerostomia)

Dry mouth isn’t just frustrating; it also increases the risk of oral infections. At Bayberry Dental Care, we offer treatments for getting this condition under control and preventing the damage it causes, but we want our patients to know why they should seek help.

Saliva helps to keep bacteria from growing out of control by removing food debris. It also provides teeth with an environment in which they can maintain their protective membranes, decreasing the odds of a crack developing through which bacteria could infect their pulp. Many cases of dry mouth occur as a side-effect of medications, but older women are particularly at risk for Sjögren’s disease, which dries out the eyes, as well as the mouth.

Drinks which are high in caffeine, alcohol, and sugar are contributors to dry mouth. Patients should try cutting back on them and chewing sugar-free gum or candy in order to stimulate more saliva production. They may also need to buy throat moisturizers as a substitute if they cannot get a medication causing dry mouth changed. Humidifiers can help people with dry mouth to sleep better at night, and with better sleep, the overall performance of their immune system should improve.

Kathleen M. Falsey, D.D.S., operates Bayberry Dental Care at 8014 West 171^st St, Tinley Park, Illinois, 60477. To schedule an appointment, call 708-802-8300 or visit BayberryDentalCare.com and fill out a contact sheet.