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Most people take saliva for granted and swallow it without even thinking about it, but it can provide valuable information about your oral health and overall health. Each day, we swallow nearly two litres of saliva, and it’s a liquid that has important properties. Spit has buffers neutralising acids, reducing your risk of tooth decay. It washes away food particles and bacteria, helping to prevent gum disease. However, there are lots of reasons why you may not produce enough high-quality saliva.

Dry Mouth

Dry mouth is a common problem, and many medications reduce saliva production, causing this issue which is called xerostomia. Sometimes, your GP can adjust your medications to help fix the problem.

Oral Thrush

Oral thrush is a yeast infection that can turn your saliva cream-coloured or white, and it’s caused by an overgrowth of Candida albicans, a type of fungus. Medication can help to clear up this condition.

Systemic Conditions

A reduction in saliva production is sometimes associated with systemic diseases and particularly Sjogren’s syndrome, which is an autoimmune disorder where the body attacks the saliva glands.

If you don’t produce enough saliva, ask us for help as we can provide useful advice on how to maintain a healthy mouth and you might benefit from more frequent professional cleanings.

TMJ disorder can develop if your upper and lower jaws are not in the correct relationship to each other, placing stress on your facial muscles and your jaw joints, called temporomandibular joints. It’s a problem that can cause inflammation and jaw pain, chronic headaches, earache, and you may clench and grind your teeth, an issue called bruxism. Facial pain can spread into your neck and shoulders. If you have noticed jaw or facial pain, we can help you.

Treating TMJ Disorder

Neuromuscular dentistry helps to realign the jaws correctly, reducing the stress on your facial muscles and your joints, which in turn reduces the inflammation and pain. TMJ disorder frequently causes bruxism, so one way we can help you is by providing a custom mouthguard worn during sleep. The device is designed to fit over your teeth, placing your jaw in a more relaxed position and preventing you from clenching and grinding. Another possible treatment is Botox injections. Botox helps facial muscles to relax so your jaw is more able to rest in the correct position. It is a nonsurgical procedure that produces minimal discomfort and Botox is administered using very fine needles. The effects last for several months.

A healthy and attractive smile is such a huge asset, and your teeth and gums deserve a little tender loving care. You don’t need to spend a terrific amount of time or money maintaining a healthy smile.

1. Practice good oral hygiene as if you are dedicated to keeping your mouth healthy, it will show. Make sure you brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss once-a-day, and it’s a simple routine that will only take you a few minutes every day.
2. Visit us regularly as professional preventative care is essential. We can carefully screen your teeth and gums for any changes in your dental health, and if needed, will provide suitable preventative or restorative treatments. Regular hygiene appointments keep your mouth super clean, reducing your risk of gum disease and tooth decay.
3. Eat healthily and if you have a sweet tooth, make sure you enjoy your sweet treats as part of the main meal. Every time you eat sugar or carbohydrate-rich foods, bacteria in your mouth will thrive, so the more frequently you snack on these foods, the greater the damage to your teeth and gums.
4. Drink more water as it hydrates and lubricates the body and helps to keep your mouth clean and fresh. Also, your body needs plenty of water to produce saliva.