Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, is an uncomfortable sensation that can cause significant distress and/or embarrassment for the sufferer. Dry mouth can be caused by smoking, recreational drug use, alcohol use, dehydration, medication or radiation therapy, among others. Dry mouth can also be an indicator of an undiscovered disease, such as Sjogren's Syndrome. The majority of dry mouth cases are caused by taking medications.
What Does Saliva Do?
Saliva is important for lubricating the mouth, allowing you to talk and eat comfortably. It also prevents bacteria from harming the teeth and protects your mouth from hot and cold drinks. Low levels of saliva can cause tooth decay, inflamed gums and bad breath.
What Are Symptoms of Dry Mouth?
Dry mouth can be identified by stickiness and lack of lubrication in your mouth, cracking at the corners of your mouth, a white substance appearing at the corners of your lips, general soreness in your mouth and food tasting blander than usual. You may find yourself drinking more water than before.
What Does Biotene Gum Do?
As the underlying cause of dry mouth is often untreatable, most treatments focus on symptom relief. Biotene Gum relieves dry mouth symptoms in a number of ways. Chewing gum of any sort stimulates saliva production and helps to clean the teeth in between brushing. Biotene Gum has the added benefit of containing a bio-active salivary enzyme protein system that actively combats bacteria, reducing bad breath, improving oral hygiene and relieving oral dryness. Biotene Gum can help supplement the natural action of the salivary system.
How Does It Work?
The active agents, lactoperoxidase and glucose oxidase, are completely natural ingredients. It also contains Xylitol, a natural sweetener that has been shown to combat tooth decay in studies published in the British Dental Journal, the International Dental Journal and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. However, Biotene Gum does not reduce numbers of streptococcus mutans, one of the species of bacteria that is a significant contributor to tooth decay. Biotene gum comes in apple and mint flavors.
When Should I Use Biotene Gum?
Biotene Gum is safe to use at any time of day, but is especially recommended between meals when it is not possible to brush your teeth.
References
- Pub Med.gov: Xylitol chewing gum and dental caries. Tanzer, JM. 1995.
- Biotene Dry Mouth Gum
- "Oral Oncology": A double blind crossover trial of Oral Balance Gel and Biotene versus placebo in patients with xerostomia following radiation therapy." Epstein, JB, Emerton, S et al. 1999.
- Pub Med.gov: Effect of an enzymatic rinse on salivary levels of Streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli in periodontally treated patients. Lehane, RJ, Murray, PA, Deasy, MJ. 1997.
- "British Dental Journal": Xylitol and caries prevention - is it a magic bullet? Maguire, A and Rugg-Gunn, AJ. 2003
- "American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry":Policy on the use of Xylitol in caries prevention. 2006
