Saliva provides lubrication for chewing and swallowing and aids in digestion—but for some people, certain conditions cause a decrease in saliva flow and lead to dry mouth. Luckily, there are treatments available for dry mouth, including a saliva substitute. Here we’ll look at artificial saliva and how to care for dry mouth. Dry Mouth and Your Oral Health Dry mouth, also called xerostomia, can come from several conditions—medication side effects,
Having overjet teeth is a condition that can alter your appearance, self-conception, and confidence in your smile. Luckily, there is a slew of options at your disposal for treatment (if you even need it!). We’ll cover how overjet differs from overbite, what causes it, when to worry about it, and what you can do. Overjet Overview Overjet refers to a condition where your top row of front teeth extend over
You may not think about it often, or ever, but your tongue does a lot for you. But it needs help. And it finds support in the form of those dots known as filiform papillae. Sure, they’re a tongue twister to say, but they not only protect your tongue, but they also provide some of the necessary functions that you and your mouth require every second of the day. Learn
It resembles a boxing speed bag and some refer to it as your “dangly thing.” These descriptions would be inaccurate. So we’re going to set the record straight on this somewhat odd-looking part of your mouth. The actual term for it is your uvula. It affects your eating and speaking and plays a significant role in your sleeping and throat health. Get the entire lowdown on your uvula below and
The next time you enjoy a delicious treat, you can thank your facial nerve. Why? Because it allows you to taste your food and to smile about it. This nerve is also referred to as the seventh cranial nerve. And it controls your taste sensation for the front two-thirds of the tongue as well as the muscles you use to make facial expressions. Needless to say, it’s a pretty important
Do you constantly experience dry mouth? Many factors can affect your saliva production, such as medications, smoking, or dehydration. Still, your dry mouth might signal an underlying condition. Sjögren’s syndrome is commonly associated with both dry mouth and dry eyes. Learn more about this disease and its impact on oral health. What Is Sjögren’s Syndrome? Sjögren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disease, which means the immune system mistakenly attacks your body’s
Have you ever bitten or cut your tongue? If yes, then you might have been surprised to have found blood in your mouth. Your tongue is connected to a rich blood supply. Where does this blood come from? The blood supply of the tongue comes from a blood vessel known as the lingual artery. Read on to find out what the lingual artery is and why it’s essential. What Is the
Consider the tongue: One of the most unique muscles in the human body, it’s truly a jack of all trades. The tongue helps the mouth-cleaning process, perceives five different taste categories, and works with the lips and teeth to spit out more than 90 words a minute. (On the downside, it harbors bad breath-causing bacteria – but no body part’s perfect.) Assisting the tongue to do its amazing job is
When you smile, how much of your gums can you see? An excess of gum tissue that shows when smiling (also called excessive gingival display) can affect your self-confidence and discourage you from displaying your pearly whites. Luckily, this condition is treatable with the help of your dental team. What Is a Gummy Smile? As an article in the International Journal of Surgery Case Reports (IJSCR) describes, a smile with more than
Did you know that your tongue’s resting position can impact everything from chewing and swallowing to the way you look and speak? Fortunately, you can correct an abnormal tongue position with myofunctional therapy. This specialized training can improve your oral health and enhance your smile. Keep reading to learn more about orofacial myofunctional disorders and their treatment. What is Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy? Myofunctional therapy uses a combination of physical therapy
Dry socket is a condition that sometimes occurs when a tooth extraction doesn’t heal properly. It may sound scary and painful, but you should know what it is, how it’s treated, and tips for helping prevent dry socket at home so you can deal with it head-on. Dry socket is a condition that sometimes occurs after having a tooth extracted. Having a tooth pulled can be stressful but, typically, pain
Wisdom teeth removal is one of the most common dental surgeries and can be associated with some painful memories for many adults. It seems like everyone has a story about their experience, whether it’s what crazy thing they said while the anesthesia was wearing off or what they wish they would’ve known about recovery before going under. To help keep recovery stories on the lighter side, we made a quick