WRITERSTEPHANIE OSFIELDPHOTOGRAPHYGETTY IMAGESDRY MOUTH
SOLUTIONS
Saliva is the best natural
defence against decay as it
helps neutralise acid from
bacteria. Chewing moist
foods and staying hydrated
can help. So tuck into:
● Carrots
● Celery
● Cucumber
● Wholegrain bread, brown
rice and oats
● Water: this helps rinse off
residual acid from foods.Clinical Associate Professor
Matthew Hopcraft, of the Royal
Dental Hospital of Melbourne.
The same bacteria that cause
gum disease have also been
shown to contribute to heart
disease, shows University of
Florida research. The good news?
“Gum disease can be reversed,
but only with good oral hygiene,”
says Assoc. Prof. Hopcraft. If
it is treated, the risk of heart
attack is lowered, according to
a study by Boston University.
SIGNS Red, inflamed gums,
bleeding when brushing or eating
hard food, bad taste in the mouth.
TREATMENT Scaling and
cleaning, antibiotics or minor
surgical cleaning may all be used.
PREVENTION
● See your dentist if you notice
sore gums or blood on your
toothbrush as this may indicate
gingivitis – inflammation that
can lead to gum disease.
● Have regular dental check-ups
for early detection of gum issues.
● Brush your tongue as well as
your teeth to combat bacteria.
Melbourne University is also
developing a gum disease vaccine.
It works by triggering an immune
response, which produces
antibodies that neutralise
the destructive toxins in the
bacteria that cause gum disease.3 Moisten
your mouth
Menopause, ageing and elevated
blood glucose levels (BGLs) can
all contribute to dry mouth. “As
saliva has protective functions,
dry mouth can increase risk of
cavities,” adds Prof. Manton.
SIGNS Lack of saliva, a ‘sticky-
paste’ feeling, food sticking to
teeth and soft tissues, difficulty
swallowing, unpleasant taste.
TREATMENT “Includes high
fluoride toothpastes and use ofprotective or moistening agents
such as a mousse at night,” says
Prof. Manton. You can ask your
dentist to recommend dry mouth
products suitable for you. Also
drink plenty of water to stay
hydrated and use sugar-free
chewing gum to increase saliva.
PREVENTION
● Reduce alcohol and caffeine,
which can be dehydrating.
● Avoid mouth-breathing,
which dries up saliva.
● Ask your GP about changing
or reducing medications that
cause mouth dryness, including
codeine-based painkillers,
antihistamines, antidepressants
and diuretics.4 Tame thrush
This can be increased by issues
such as high BGLs, dry mouth
or eating too many carbs.
SIGNS “Thrush often appears as
a white patch that can be rubbed
off to uncover a red patch, often
on the tongue and cheeks, and isassociated with an uncomfortable
or burning feeling,” says Prof.
Manton. “Sometimes redness
and soreness also occur at the
corners of the mouth.”
TREATMENT Topical anti-fungal
agents, applied once or twice a
day. Anti-fungal medications
may also be prescribed.
PREVENTION
● Good oral hygiene and denture
cleanliness if you wear them.
● Keep your BGLs within
a healthy range.5 Manage
mouth ulcers
These are small lesions that
develop on the soft tissue of the
mouth in areas like the tongue
and cheeks. May be triggered by
harsh teeth-brushing, food
sensitivities, hormonal changes
and bad bacteria and usually
take 10-14 days to heal. If a
painful lump or pimple-like
swelling develops, see your
dentist immediately – this
may indicate a gum abscess,
which needs to be drained
and treated with antibiotics.
SIGNS Red round or oval
lesions which often have
a white or yellow centre.
TREATMENT This includes
salt water or over-the-counter
mouth rinses and topical pastes,
creams and gels that protect the
ulcer to promote healing.
PREVENTION
● Wear mouth guards when
playing sport to avoid injuries.
● Practise good dental hygiene
(brush with medium pressure,
not too heavily).
● If you have a sensitive mouth,
avoid foods that may cause
burning such as hot chilli or
strong caffeinated drinks. Other
triggers in sensitive people may
include soy sauce, tomatoes,
strawberries or oranges. Q104 JULY/AUGUST 2017 diabetic livingLIVING well