Dry mouth is when your salivary glands in your mouth don’t produce enough saliva in order to keep your mouth wet. Dry mouth can occur during pregnancy due to increased hormones that affect your oral health and you need more water to keep hydrated. Not only is dry mouth uncomfortable but you need saliva to help prevent tooth decay. Saliva helps neutralize acids that are produced by bacteria. Therefore, saliva helps limit bacteria growth and washes away a lot of food particles. If you have dry mouth it is harder for you to chew and swallow. You need saliva to help break down the food so you don’t choke when the food goes down your throat. Also, enzymes in the saliva help with digestion.
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Having a dry mouth during pregnancy can be really annoying and most likely will be uncomfortable. It can also have a major impact on your overall health and it will affect the health of your teeth and gums. You will likely have a different appetite and it will decrease your taste of food. Obviously, dry mouth is something that you need to fix, but first, you need to find the reason for your dry mouth.
According to Healthline, the Symptoms of Dry Mouth can Include
- constant sore throat
- trouble swallowing
- dryness inside your nose
- burning feeling in your throat or mouth
- trouble speaking
- hoarseness
- change in sense of taste
- tooth decay
Some causes for dry mouth during pregnancy
- Dehydration: As we all should know by now, water is essential to our overall health. Pregnant women need to drink more water than they have previously. Water is essential for the developing baby. Dehydration can be dangerous for babies and can lead to birth defects or premature labor. You might notice an increased amount of cramps and Braxton hicks if you are dehydrated. Some signs that you might be dehydrated; dark yellow urine, dizziness, fatigue, extreme thirst or headaches.
- Gestational diabetes: Women who have high blood sugar will likely be diagnosed with Gestational diabetes. Most women’s blood sugar will go back to normal after delivery if they didn’t have any blood sugar issues before pregnancy. Gestational diabetes means that you need more insulin and your doctor may prescribe you with medication because GB can be very dangerous for you and your baby. It can also be managed with a proper diet and also exercise. If you are able to manage your blood sugar than your dry mouth will be managed as well if it was caused by GB. Some signs that you may have high blood sugar; excessive thirst, increased need to urinate, and excessive fatigue.
- Thrush: Thrush is disorder that causes an overgrowth of a fungus called Candida albicans. Everybody has a little bit of this fungus but it is usually a small amount that won’t cause any severe side…
