Dry Mouth

Lack of saliva is a common problem that may seem little more than a nuisance, but a dry mouth can affect both your enjoyment of food and the health of your teeth. The medical term for dry mouth is xerostomia (zeer-o-STO-me-uh).

Dry mouth can cause problems because saliva helps prevent tooth decay by limiting bacterial growth and washing away food and plaque. Saliva enhances your ability to taste and makes it easier to swallow. In addition, enzymes in saliva aid in digestion.

Although the treatment depends on the cause, dry mouth is often a side effect of medication. Dry mouth may improve with an adjusted dosage or a new prescription.

If you suspect that your medications may be contributing to your dry mouth additional information is available at: http://pdrhealth.com/home/home.aspx

Contact Rochester Advanced Dentistry 248.56.2020

New Research on Teething Gels

The FDA has recently advised against teething pain relievers containing benzocaine (the active ingredients in most over-the-counter teething gels.) The FDA says it can cause a rare but serious condition called methemoglobinemia, which reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood stream.

Try these tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the FDA:

• Offer your child a chilled (not frozen) teething ring made of firm rubber
• Gently massage your child's gums with a clean finger
• Should benzocaine use be necessary, use the gel or liquid sparingly- not more then four times a day

Try: Baby Orajel has a new Naturals line that's benzocaine-,alcohol- and dye-free.

For additional information contact Rochester Advanced Dentistry 248.656.2020