With summer here and temperatures rising in Vélez-Málaga and across the Axarquía, it’s natural to focus on keeping our skin hydrated or protecting ourselves from the sun. However, there’s a very common symptom we tend to overlook that hides a real risk to our oral health: the constant feeling of having a dry mouth or a sticky mouth, a condition medically known as xerostomia.
At Acosta Cubero Dental Clinic, located in Torre del Mar, we know that saliva isn’t simply “water” in your mouth. Today we want to explain, from a purely medical point of view, why a lack of saliva is a real danger to your teeth and how you can protect your oral health during the hottest months of the year. Find out how to beat dry mouth! 🛡️
Your mouth’s natural shield: what is saliva for? 🤔
Saliva is the most powerful defence system and protective shield our body has for keeping the mouth healthy. It doesn’t just help us chew and swallow food comfortably; it also carries out essential biological tasks:
- Antibacterial effect: it naturally regulates the pH of the mouth and neutralises the acids produced by bacteria after eating.
- Constant cleaning: it continuously washes away microscopic food debris and stops it sticking to your teeth.
- Remineralisation: it supplies calcium and phosphate to tooth enamel, keeping it strong and resistant to external attacks.
When we suffer from dry mouth, this shield disappears and your teeth and gums are left completely unprotected against infection. ⚠️
The consequences of xerostomia in summer ⚠️
Reduced saliva production completely upsets the ecological balance of the mouth. If it isn’t identified and treated in time at our clinic in Torre del Mar, xerostomia triggers serious problems:
- An explosion of aggressive decay: with no saliva to neutralise acids, bacteria break through the enamel very easily and cause severe cavities in record time.
- Inflamed, bleeding gums: the massive build-up of plaque irritates the gums, encourages gingivitis and speeds up periodontal problems.
- Bad breath and difficulty speaking: the lack of oxygen and moisture encourages bacteria to multiply on the tongue, causing persistent bad breath (halitosis) and an uncomfortable burning sensation or difficulty speaking.
Why does dry mouth happen and how do we treat it at Acosta Cubero Clinic? ⚙️
Dry mouth can be caused by summer dehydration, but it’s also a side effect of more than 500 common medicines (such as those for blood pressure, antidepressants or antihistamines), of stress or of certain chronic illnesses.
At our clinic in Vélez-Málaga we help you treat it in a personalised way, as part of our dental treatments:
- Finding the cause: we review your medical history and habits to understand what’s slowing down your salivary glands.
- More frequent check-ups: if you have chronic dry mouth, we’ll plan more regular visits to apply high-concentration fluoride and protect your teeth before cavities appear.
- Stimulation guidelines: we’ll recommend specific saliva substitutes, moisturising gels and medical hydration guidelines to make your mouth comfortable again.
Keep your mouth protected this summer in the Axarquía! 😊
Good oral health depends on keeping your whole body in balance. Don’t accept a sticky mouth as normal, and don’t try to fix it just by sucking sugary sweets, as this will make tooth decay dramatically worse.
If dry mouth bothers you in your day-to-day life or makes eating uncomfortable, get in touch with Acosta Cubero Dental Clinic in Torre del Mar (Vélez-Málaga) and book an assessment. Our medical team will check the condition of your teeth and gums to give you the protection you need. Enjoy the summer with a healthy, hydrated mouth!
