Asthma and Oral Health

The dentists of Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk’s Miami practice are a vital part of each patient’s medical care team. People with asthma face some particular oral health challenges, and to help them practice preventive care, we want them to understand why they may be especially at risk for developing cavities.

Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, is a major contributor to enamel imperfections. We depend on saliva to wash away food debris and to keep our mouths at a pH level that allows enamel to remineralize. But people with asthma easily develop dry mouth because they are likelier to breathe through their mouths and it is also a common side-effect of some asthma medications. Patients should consult with their asthma specialist before changing medications, but they can counter dry mouth by drinking more water, using throat moisturizers, chewing sugar-free gum, and by using humidifiers.

Other factors specifically impacting asthma patients are acid reflux and the sugar content of medications. Because asthma causes restrictions in the throat, some patients are prescribed muscles relaxants. These relaxants risk opening the sphincter that separates the stomach from the esophagus, allowing stomach acid into the mouth, where it erodes enamel. Some oral medications may also contain lactose. Patients who are conscious of this may use fluoridated mouth rinse after taking medications and avoid foods that exacerbate acid reflux, such as onions, red meat, and caffeine. Chewing sugar-free gum to increase saliva flow can also help neutralize acid.

Dr. Allen Ressler, Dr. Andrew Hirschl, and Dr. Ira Lelchuk operate from two locations. To schedule an appointment at the location at Mount Sinai Medical Center, 4300 Alton Road, Suite 1190, Miami Beach, Florida, 33140, call 305-532-1444. To schedule an appointment at Intracoastal Mall, 3909 NE 163^rdSt, Suite 310, North Miami Beach, Florida, 33160, call 305-949-2630. They can also be reached on their website, Miami Dental through a contact form.

Causes of Bad Breath

If you frequently have bad breath, there may be a bigger issue at play than smelly food. We at the Miami Beach dental offices of Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk are attentive to our patients’ oral pathologies and contributing conditions. Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is often related to dry mouth and gum disease.

As oral bacteria produce acid, they give off a bad smell. Brushing and flossing teeth is essential to depriving bacteria of food, but they may still find a home in the papillae of the tongue. There, they consume food particles as well as nasal drip that can land on the tongue when the patient has a cold or nasal blockage. As part of their daily hygiene routine, we recommend that patients brush their tongue, clean it with a scraper, and use antibacterial mouthwash.

Adequate saliva is necessary for clearing the mouth of food debris and preventing the spread of bacteria and fungus. A lack of saliva can result in bacterial growth and bad breath. Patients should inquire with their doctors about changing medications that can cause dry mouth or getting tested for related rheumatic diseases. Halitosis is also associated with diabetes due to chemicals diabetic people’s bodies produce as they break down fat and diabetes’s suppression of the immune system. Acid reflux can also cause halitosis due to stomach acid burning the esophagus and entering the oral cavity. Bad breath can be combatted by drinking lots of water, but patients with chronic health conditions should make sure they’re aware of whether halitosis means they need to consult their physician.

Dr. Allen Ressler, Dr. Andrew Hirschl, and Dr. Ira Lelchuk operate from two locations. To schedule an appointment at the location at Mount Sinai Medical Center, 4300 Alton Road, Suite 1190, Miami Beach, Florida, 33140, call 305-532-1444. To schedule an appointment at Intracoastal Mall, 3909 NE 163^rdSt, Suite 310, North Miami Beach, Florida, 33160, call 305-949-2630. They can also be reached on their website, Miami Dental through a contact form.

 

Dry Mouth

If you’ve ever been parched and in desperate need of wetting your whistle, you know how uncomfortable dry mouth can be. Dry mouth is the feeling that there is not enough saliva in the mouth. Everyone has a dry mouth once in a while, but excessive dry mouth can be due to medication, or an underlying condition such as diabetes. If dry mouth is causing you discomfort, Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk can treat the problem.

Symptoms of dry mouth include a sticky, dry feeling in the mouth that may be accompanied by a dry feeling in the throat, a dry rough tongue, mouth sores, and/or trouble chewing, swallowing, or speaking. Causes for dry mouth include certain medications that you can discuss with one of our doctors, salivary glands diseases, and smoking. Treatment for dry mouth will depend on the cause.

If you have questions or concerns regarding dry mouth, please give us a call. To learn more about dental hygiene as well as the services we provide at the practice, visit www.miami-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors or hygienists, give us a call at our Miami Beach office: 305-532-1444 or our North Miami Beach office: 305-949-2630.