How a Humidifier Might Relieve Your Toothaches

A chronic dry mouth condition can be frustrating at best and uncomfortable at worst. A lot of unpleasant symptoms arise from dry mouth, but did you know that your frequent toothaches could also be the result of dry mouth syndrome? Because of the symptoms of dry mouth, it is easy to develop a toothache. But a proactive step you can take at home to relieve your pain is as simple as plugging in a humidifier.

The Correlation Between Humidifiers and Dry Mouth

You've probably heard about the tricks like sucking on a hard sugarless candy to increase saliva flow. But if you have chronic dry mouth and toothaches on top of that, sucking on a candy might add more pressure to your sensitive teeth and make your toothaches worse. This is where the humidifier comes into play.

For starters, it isn't an extra thing inside your mouth, aggravating your teeth. It isn't an expensive procedure that you have to pay for and recover from, either. It's a simple and effective home treatment option. A humidifier could help relieve your dry mouth and ease toothache pain by:

• Making it Easier to Swallow: Moisture in the air will help prevent your mouth and throat from becoming too dry. The added moisture along your throat makes it easier to swallow your food; you won't have to choose between painfully swallowing your food whole or excessively chewing with your sore teeth in order to swallow.
• Reducing Bacteria in Your Mouth: As you breathe in air from the humidifier, the moisture keeps your saliva count high. Saliva can then do its job unimpeded and break down bacteria in your mouth. Your teeth won't decay as quickly and you will experience less frequent toothaches.

The Correlation Between Dry Mouth and Toothaches

Are you convinced that humidifiers might relieve dry mouth, but not that dry mouth is the reason for your toothaches? Why don't you take a brief look at the symptoms of dry mouth that contribute to tooth pain. These symptoms aren't minor setbacks such as dry lips or a hoarse voice, they are a major problem that need to be addressed. Toothaches are caused by:

• Increased Bacteria: Saliva plays a crucial role in breaking down the food and bacteria in your mouth. Decreased amounts of saliva means increased bacteria in your mouth. The rate of decay in your teeth is accelerated, leaving your teeth sensitive, your roots exposed, and your toothaches constant.
• Oral Disease: When saliva isn't present to break down bacteria, you are more susceptible to oral diseases. These diseases can be present in your teeth or gums, but either way they affect your comfort levels. You could develop mouth sores which make it difficult to chew. These sores and infections further weaken your teeth and cause toothaches.

Treating Dry Mouth & Toothaches

Relieving the symptoms of dry mouth should be your primary concern at this point. As you treat your dry mouth condition, the source of your toothaches will be eliminated. You may need some dental work such as cavity fillings or root scaling and planing in order to eliminate your toothache, but you will have less likelihood of recurring toothaches when you treat dry mouth first. It isn't enough to treat dry mouth at home, but a humidifier can do a lot to ease your pain between dental treatments.

Surprisingly, toothaches, dry mouth, and humidifiers are all connected. Dry mouth can cause toothaches, but be relieved by humidifiers. Therefore, humidifiers can be used to alleviate your toothaches. While this is a proactive step you can take at home, also make sure to talk with dental services in Fridley MN about treatment options. It's important to treat all side effects of dry mouth to truly eliminate your toothaches.