Why Do We Develop More Cavities As We Age?

Tooth Decay

One of the greatest protectors against cavities is saliva. The reason for this, is saliva helps to neutralize the acids in our mouths. Our salivary glands are located in our cheeks and under our tongues. These glands make two different kinds of saliva: serous and mucoid. Serous saliva is the more wet and watery of your saliva and your mucoid saliva is thick and sticky. Our serous saliva is the important one when considering cavities and oral health.

Unfortunately, as we age, fatty tissue is stored in our serous salivary glands. This means that the area of our mouth that used to create saliva is now being replaced with fat. As a result of this, we start to suffer from dry mouth (xerostomia). Dry mouth means that we are not producing enough saliva, and we have more acids in our mouth than bases. As a result of this imbalance, we start to develop more cavities.

There are other things that can also cause dry mouth for us as we age. These things include side effects to medication and radiation treatment. Many common medications that we use when age are to treat hypertension, heart problems, arthritis, and others. Unfortunately, a side effect of many of these medications is diminished salivary gland production. Additionally, radiation treatment decreases cell multiplication including the cells that make up your salivary glands.

As we grow old, our body goes through many changes that impact our health. Because of this, Dr. Landry in Seville, OH suggests that you continue to see your dentist at least twice per year. If you would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Landry please call us at 330-769-4470 or use our online form.

Xerostomia (Dry Mouth) - Part 4

Relief For Dry Mouth

Now that we have looked at what dry mouth is, what some of the common causes are, and what some good treatment options are, let’s discuss a few more ways to find relief. Finding relief from dry mouth is not always easy, but avoiding certain foods and activities can help.

Unfortunately, cutting some of your favorite foods and activities out of your life is not easy. However, if you are serious about finding relief for your dry mouth, here are some suggestions of what to eliminate from your diet or daily activities:

- Avoid alcohol consumption.

- Avoid smoking cigarettes and other tobacco products.

- Avoid excess caffeine intake.

- Avoid foods and juices with citrus.

- Avoid consuming too much sodium.

Additionally, you should dry to breathe through your nose as much as possible. When you breathe through your mouth, it can cause your mouth to dry out. However, if your nose is stuffy and you cannot breathe through your nose, please breathe through your mouth instead of not at all!!

If you suffer from dry mouth, please know it can lead to further dental and general health problems and become both annoying and dangerous. If you leave your dry mouth untreated,  you may begin to suffer from extreme tooth decay and gum disease. In a study done by the Oral Cancer Foundation, it was found that roughly thirty percent of cavities in adults were a result of dry mouth. If you can detect dry mouth, and relieve your symptoms, you will not only be more comfortable but also could save your teeth. Unfortunately, the longer you wait to treat your dry mouth - the worse shape you will be in. 

Dr. Landry and his team of dental professionals want you to lead a happy and healthy life. Dr. Landry welcomes you to contact us to schedule an appointment at his office in Seville, Ohio, just minutes from Lodi, Wadsworth, Medina, Creston, and Chippewa Lake to get on your way to a healthy smile.

Xerostomia (Dry Mouth) - Part 3

Remedies For Dry Mouth

In Parts 1 and 2 of our blog series about Dry Mouth, Dr. Landry discussed what dry mouth is, as well as some of the common causes.  At Landry Family Dentistry, we want everyone in the Seville, OH area to be educated about their dental health. Below are several pointers and treatments to find some relief from dry mouth:

- Consume more water
- Proper at home oral care (brushing, flossing, and mouthwash twice per day)
- Chew sugarless chewing gum, look specifically for xylitol
- Utilize a humidifier while sleeping
- Keep your lips hydrated
- Use an artificial saliva substitute
- Visit Dr. Landry regularly

Dry mouth, or xerostomia, often has an underlying cause that cannot be treated. It is common that medication you are taking can cause dry mouth, and not a health issue itself. 



In part 4 of our blog series regarding dry mouth, we will discuss other ways to find relief. If you would like to schedule a visit to Landry Family Dentistry, we would be happy to see you. 


Xerostomia (Dry Mouth) - Part 2

Common Causes of Dry Mouth

Everyone at Landry Family Dentistry in Seville, OH understands that maintaining your oral health is critical in maintaining your overall health. You may not know but dry mouth, or xerostomia, can stem from an underlying health condition. Whatever is causing your dry mouth, it is important to understand it and properly treat it.

What are causes of Dry Mouth?

Dry mouth is when you do not produce enough saliva to keep your mouth moist. But what causes this insufficient secretion of saliva? Common causes of insufficient salivary flow include medications, diseases like anemia and diabetes, radiation therapy, nerve damage, dehydration, smoking, caffeine intake and other various triggers.

While all of the above can cause dry mouth, the leading cause is medications. Many medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, have dry mouth as a potential side effect. Below is a list of several groups of medications that can be involved with dry mouth. The list includes, but is not limited to the following:

- Alergy medications
- Antidepressants
- Pain Killers
- Diuretics
- Blood Pressure medications

- Inhalers
- Decongestants

If you would like to know some treatment tips to prevent and reverse dry mouth please stay tuned for part 3 of our blog series on dry mouth.

For tips like this and more, please like us on Facebook and follow us on Google+ and Twitter! If you are in the Seville, Wadsworth, Medina, Creston, Chippewa Lake, or Westfield area, please contact us for a visit to discuss ways in which we can address your dry mouth or other dental concerns.

Xerostomia (Dry Mouth) - Part 1

What is Dry Mouth?

Do you find yourself quite thirsty all the time? Do you have trouble swallowing certain kinds of food? Does your saliva ever feel foamy or thick? You may be one of the millions of Americans that suffers from xerostomia, better know as dry mouth.


25% of Americans are affected by dry mouth, so you are not alone in suffering from this common disorder. Dr. Landry and the entire team at Landry Family Dentistry want the gums, teeth, and mouths of people in Seville, OH to be as healthy as possible. The following is information that Dr. Landry and his team want you to know regarding dry mouth and how it impacts your dental health.

What is dry mouth?

Dry mouth (xerostomia), is an absence or inadequate amount of saliva in the mouth. This can lead to many issues as your saliva is an integral part of maintaining good oral health.

Why is it a problem?

Saliva is one of the most important factors to maintaining your oral health. The reason saliva is so important is due to the many functions it performs like preventing tooth decay, aiding in the digestion process, and helping us fight off infection. If you create an insufficient amount of saliva it can lead to things like periodontitis and cavities.


Keep your eyes open for part two of our series on dry mouth where we will discuss some common causes of dry mouth. If you are in the Seville, Medina, Wadsworth, Creston, Westfield, or Chippewa Lake area please contact us today at 330-769-4470.

Oral Health and Diabetes

Diabetes and Your Oral Health

Did you know that one largely unknown consequence of diabetes is the detriment to your oral health? If you are one of the 30 million Americans who suffers from diabetes you may want to know this.

Research shows that there is an increased prevalence of gum disease (Periodontitis) among those with diabetes. This serious disease that affects the gum tissue and jaw bones is in addition to other complications associated with diabetes, such as heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.  Periodontal disease is a serious health concern that affects entire body health, potentially affecting blood glucose control and even contributing to the progression of diabetes.

Diabetes may lead to periodontal disease adnd tooth decay for many reasons, including:

- Diabetes decreases your body's ability to fight off infections and recover.
- Diabetes decreases the flow of your blood meaning not as much blood will circulate to your gums.
- Diabetes will cause an elevation of sugar within your mouth.

For these reasons it is important to brush and floss as recommended by Dr. Landry. It is also important to see Dr. Landry for routine oral wellness visits.  Additionally, you can read the Surgeon General's Report on Oral Health which reports on how good oral health will lead to improved overall health.

Call Landry Family Dentistry at 330-769-4470 and make an appointment today with Dr. Joseph Landry for a check-up to maintain ideal health.  Like us out on Facebook and follow us on Twitter more tips on proper oral health.

Tips To Stop Smoking

Want To Quit Smoking?

Smoking is one of the worst, if not the worst, habit you can form for your health. Not only does smoking effect your overall health but also your dental health by increasing your risk of mouth cancer, causing tooth discoloration, and increasing plaque and tartar build up. Smoking can also cause your to be at higher risk for tooth loss due to diseases like periodontitis.

Dr. Joseph Landry II and the Landry Family Dentistry team are dedicated to the improvement of the oral and overall health for the people of Medina, Summit, and Wayne Counties! We enjoy cheering on our patients in their decision to stop or reduce their smoking habit, and would like to describe some of the encouraging tips we share with them.

One of the biggest reasons people smoke is in order to relieve stress. This means that managing your stress levels is vital in your attempt to stop smoking. There are many substitutes you can try in place of smoking a cigarette. These things include receiving a massage, listening to calming music, and doing some yoga. Additionally, if there are certain things that calm  you down try those. For example, Dr. Landry loves being out in the fresh air when hiking or fishing.

If drinking makes you want a cigarette, try to stay away from alcohol. According to studies, using the combination of alcohol and tobacco increases the risk of oral cancer.  If you enjoy having a smoke after a meal, try to replace it with sugar-free gum or go for an after dinner walk.  

Identifying your individual smoking triggers can help you reduce or eliminate tobacco much more easily. For more information about why the Landry Family Dentistry team supports our patients in smoking cessation, check out Smokefree.gov.

If you have stopped smoking or are considering stopping and want to whiten your discolored teeth please contact Dr. Landry. If you would like to know more about Dr. Landry's teeth whitening services please contact his office in Seville, OH.

For more oral & overall health tips like this and more, please like us on Facebook and follow us on Google+ and Twitter.