The health of our smile can serve as a window to our overall well-being. There’s more to this than having a beautiful smile. Our oral health is tied into multiple areas of our overall health. Heart disease and even Alzheimer’s have been shown to have ties to the health of our smile. This makes caring for our oral health more important than ever before. Salivary Gland Disorders are one condition that can significantly impact our smile. Aesthetic Dentistry of Palm City helps its patients understand how to identify conditions like these and know when to seek treatment.
How Salivary Gland Disorders Impact Our Smile’s Health
The salivary glands are those responsible for saliva production within our mouth. Saliva serves several important roles in the health of our smile. It helps to cleanse out bacteria and food debris and maintain the pH balance in our mouth. Our oral cavity has a natural pH level that is hostile to the bacteria that cause tooth decay. When our salivary glands aren’t functioning properly, it can result in conditions such as dry mouth or excessive drooling. In addition to bacterial and viral infections, salivary gland disorders can be caused by Sjögren’s syndrome and salivary gland stones (sialolithiasis).
Some symptoms that indicate you may have a salivary gland disorder include:
- Dry Mouth
- Facial or neck swelling
- Trouble swallowing
- Abnormal flavors
- Mouth or facial pain
- Frequent infections of the salivary glands
These symptoms can notably impact the health of our oral cavity, causing complications such as gum disease, oral infections, and tooth decay. You must seek immediate care if you identify any of these symptoms.
In addition to the benefits mentioned above, a healthy salivary system helps with digestion and maintains the health of our oral mucosa. The oral mucosa is the soft tissue within our mouth, such as the cheeks. When we lack saliva, it can impact our experiences and the health of our mouths in multiple ways. Saliva makes swallowing our food easier and can impact our ability to speak and taste normally.
At Aesthetic Dentistry of Palm City, we provide various treatment options for salivary gland disorder patients. The treatment’s precise nature depends on the underlying condition causing the salivary gland disorder. Sometimes, treatment for the condition may require assistance from your primary care physician or a multidisciplinary approach.
Contact Aesthetic Dentistry of Palm City To Learn More
Our team is committed to working with our community to help manage our patient’s health concerns, such as salivary gland disorder. Whether you’re looking for a new dentist to handle your preventative care or are in need of comprehensive care for advanced gum disease, we’re here to help. We specialize in improving smiles through the use of cosmetic dental treatments, including veneers, fillings, crowns, and dental whitening procedures. Reach out to us today by calling us at (772) 283-8350 or stopping by our offices in Palm City, FL. Together, we’ll ensure you have a beautiful, healthy smile that will still be with you for years.
