Oral Health: Dry Mouth Relief, Tongue Care & Teeth Habits

What causes extreme dry mouth or a white coated tongue in kids? From managing jaw pain due to bruxism to understanding the dental impact of acidic diets, maintaining basic oral health involves proper tongue care and cleaning habits.

woman cleaning tongue using toothbrush with mirror in bathroom

Small, White Bumps on the Tip of the Tongue

The top surface of the tongue is covered with small pink bumps called papillae. Sometimes these papillae become inflamed, producing white bumps called lie bumps. At other times, small white bumps on the tongue are caused by other conditions, such as canker sores or thrush.

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Asian women She is in bed and was waking up in the morning. She felt very refreshed.

What Does it Mean When You Wake Up With a Dry Mouth?

Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, is a common condition that everyone experiences. There are a number of causes of dry mouth. Most produce a dry mouth during both the day and night, but the dryness is often most noticeable when waking up in the morning.

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Red Bumps Underneath the Tongue

Red bumps on or underneath the tongue can be alarming. At the very least, they are the result of eating too many acidic or sugary foods and at the most they could be a sign of disease. In most cases, these bumps are merely a nuisance. While they may be painful, they are likely to go away on their own within a few days.

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Two Female Teenagers Eating a Toffee Apple and a Lolly

What Makes Teeth Sensitive to Sugar?

Proper dental care is an important part of overall health maintenance. Regular brushing and flossing is an important part of this, and it must be done on a daily basis for best results. Sometimes poor dental hygiene, improper diet or both can lead to dental problems, including tooth sensitivity.

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Dry Mouth With Braces

If you have braces and experience some side effects such as a dry, cottony feeling in your mouth, there are solutions that can allow you to remain comfortable with your mouth until the braces are gone.

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Sore Gums in Children

While there are several reasons for sore gums in children, such as having a tooth coming in, the pain is often an early sign of gum disease. Nearly all children have gingivitis, according to the American Academy of Periodontology. However, you can reverse gingivitis in its early stages before it becomes periodontitis.

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Gums and teeth examination. Close up

Swollen Gums After Eating

Eating usually brings enjoyment and pleasure, but if you notice that your gums swell after eating, you might think of meals differently. Swollen gums after eating are not normal and need to be looked at by your dentist or doctor.

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B12 Under the Tongue

Vitamin B-12, or cobalamin, participates in the synthesis of DNA within your cells; it is essential for the production of myelin, which is the insulating sheath that protects your nerves. Cobalamin deficiency leads to the production of enlarged, poorly-functioning red blood cells.

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Using whitening toothpaste

Chewing Gum After Brushing Teeth

Chewing sugar-free gum promotes dental health, but it offers just a few benefits if you have recently brushed your teeth. The increased use of artificial sweeteners such as sorbitol has helped gum transition from a candy to a useful dental tool. Unlike sugar, artificial sweeteners do not contribute to tooth decay.

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Young woman smiling, close-up

What Causes Small White Bumps on Lips?

Small white bumps can appear on the lips because of many different causes. While some types of lip bumps may be benign, others can be symptoms associated with certain medical conditions.

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Cracked, Sore Tongue

A cracked tongue is marked by one or more fissures on the tongue surface. It has multiple causes, ranging from poor nutrition to anemia. Understanding the possible causes of your cracked, sore tongue and the accompanying symptoms can help you and your physician determine proper diagnosis and treatment sooner.

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Young man whitening teeth at dentist.

Alternatives for Root Canals

Sometimes teeth develop nerve problems. These can result from tiny cracks in the tooth, trauma, or deep decay. If a patient is experiencing pain or swelling, root canal, or endodontic, therapy may be recommended. Many patients would like to avoid the cost and discomfort of the root canal procedure if possible.

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Pineapple and Tongue Pain

Pineapple can often cause minor skin irritations because it’s highly acidic. The fruit -- or the juice -- can cause your tongue to feel gritty, itchy and mildly painful shortly after eating. If you develop severe pain, itching, burning or swelling in your tongue from eating pineapple, you should talk with your doctor.

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How To Relieve Sore Gums

When your gums feel painful, throb, are reddened or produce sores, you may have unhealthy gums. Healthy gums are pink in color, and shouldn't cause you pain. When you're dealing with sore gums, it may be difficult to eat or talk, so it's important that you address the problem immediately.

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The appearance of circumvallate papillae is normal and not a sign of disease, although these bumps may become inflamed if you ha

Bumps on Tongue in a V-Shape

The human tongue is covered by small bumps called papillae which contain thousands of taste buds. The dozen-or-so papillae on the very back of the tongue, called the circumvallate papillae or vallate papillae, are larger than other papillae on the tongue and are arranged in a v-shape that points towards the throat.

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Thirst and a Dry Mouth at Night

Thirst and dry mouth at night can be very uncomfortable. Night thirst and dry mouth can cause pain and discomfort itself, and can also be a symptom of other conditions. It is important for all those suffering continual thirst and dry mouth at night to seek the advice of a medical professional.

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Tongue Sticking Out

Can Certain Foods Cause Geographic Tongue?

A geographic tongue causes stinging or burning sensations and occasionally causes pain, swelling or numbness. Geographic tongue alters papillae–small protrusions on which taste buds are located–that are evenly spread out on unaffected tongues.

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Dryness on the Roof of My Mouth

A dry roof of the mouth is more than an inconvenience. It can cause major discomfort and even prevent you from completing your regular daily tasks. A dry mouth -- including a dry roof of the mouth -- can also lead to more serious complications.

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