No, we aren’t talking about cussing—which you should NEVER do in front of your mother—but, rather, cleanliness. You know, for years, your mother told you to stop talking with your mouth full of food.
Misophonia, or chewing with an open mouth, is a habit that, while offensive to many, is not necessarily deleterious to your health (although your clothing may suffer injury for the food that falls on it and you may become lonely since many won’t want to sit with you).
But xerostomia, which is “dry mouth,” has a number of causes, including sleeping with your mouth open (which may lead to “morning breath”), mouth-breathing, mouthwashes, and even certain foods and beverages (I’m lookin’ at you, coffee).
While most of us can just brush our teeth and brush our tongue to eliminate this nasty morning feeling, it is important to note that dry mouth may be either the cause or symptom of other problems, so it should not be taken lightly.
Why Is Dry Mouth Such a Big Deal?
- A very common symptom associated with dry mouth is difficulty tasting foods. Taste is something that everyone enjoys and that also requires moist taste buds on the tongue. In addition, this can also include difficulty in talking, chewing and swallowing. The tongue needs to stay loose and mobile to make the movements associated with talking. If you have a dry mouth, it often leads to a clenched jaw which makes chewing difficult. Swallowing becomes difficult because the throat needs to be lubricated to bring food down the esophagus.
- If you have persistent dry mouth at night that is not alleviated by oral hygiene, you may want to check with your doctor to see if any medications you are taking might be causing the dryness. Also, smoking causes dry mouth.
- One major problem that is linked to dry mouth is gingivitis. Gingivitis is a gum disease that is characterized by inflammation. Tooth decay can also be a result from dry mouth at night. Tooth decay is a very serious oral condition that can lead to cavities and loss of teeth. If you have dry mouth at night, it is important to do everything you can to treat it before it gets to the stage where your teeth start to decay.
- Another reason to treat dry mouth at night as early as possible is that it can leave you susceptible to oral infections like thrush. Thrush is caused by fungus that is in your mouth and digestive system. When your salivary glands are working properly, the saliva keeps the fungus in check. Both are essential parts of the digestive system, but with dry mouth at night, the fungus can start to grow into yeast infections in the mouth.
The bottom line? Good morning oral hygiene including the TUNG Brush and Gel will help you to give your mom that great big Mother’s Day kiss!
Of course, she will probably remind you to close your mouth while you eat anyway, but then… she IS a mom! Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at TUNG Brush and Gel! Oh, and by the way, don’t forget the flowers!
