Without any justification,

I am of the opinion that

more attention to oral

moisture is advisable.

Conditions which cause

breathing through the

mouth, such as nasal

congestion or simply

leaving one's mouth

open, may exacerbate

a decrease in oral

mositure already resulting

from a possible age

related decrease in salivation.

I know personally that

adjustments I make to

pronounce Japanese to

my satisfaction have

caused significant drying

and shifting.

Air humidity should be

considered, as well as

a reduction in direct

air flow, as from a fan.

Also, alcohol is a wonderful

drying agent.

I've read some suggestions

that salivic arginine may

be involved in plack control.

Is there is a relationship

between testosterone and

arginine levels?

By the way, a taste for

hot foods could also be

a factor.

Hot pepper, citrus fruits,

and phosphoric acid in

some beverages begin

eating your teeth away

upon contact.

Rinse. Rinse. Rinse.

Well, I guess I'm screwed then. I sleep with a fan on, drink like a fish, and gargle with hot sauce. Maybe I can get on a prepayment plan for dentures.

jane_says (imported) wrote: Wed Sep 29, 2004 5:31 pm Well, I guess I'm screwed then. I sleep with a fan on, drink like a fish, and gargle with hot sauce. Maybe I can get on a prepayment plan for dentures.

I am thinking of getting them all pulled. Then the old "gummin it" routine will be a lot easier!

Robby (imported) wrote: Tue Sep 28, 2004 3:37 pm http://www.eunuch.org/Public/Images/ea1/E9.gif http://www.eunuch.org/Public/Images/ea1/E9.gif http://www.eunuch.org/Public/Images/ea1/E9.gif

Laugh if you will, but I have had a number

of friends older than many here, and the

tendency to not seal the lips, in my

unscientific opinion is a significant factor.

As a matter of fact, I often sleep with the

fan on. However, if someone is suffering an

uncharacteristic decline in dental conditions,

it would be reasonable to consider many

factors (if not all factors) ahead of testicular

disposition.

Onions, I believe contain hydrocloric acid,

tomatoes acidic acid, and a popular ingredient

in calcium augmented orange juice is malic

acid. Unscientifically, as a personal preference,

I would avoid things fortified with malic acid.

Unscientifically, one might consider one lightly

salted chip to tend toward the neutralization of

high acid foods. Brushing is not necessarily going

to change the chemical current balance inbodied

in the oral tissues.

And again

Manimal (imported) wrote: Wed Sep 29, 2004 3:12 am , alcohol is a wonderful drying agent.

It dries the teeth, and dries the gums, which,

in my opinion, is undesirable.

In advertently, Jane Says, you may have

stumbled onto another potentially important

factor here: attitude and self deprication.

Self deprication is often beneficial when applied

to thinking. Applied to biology, there may be

certain draw backs. The lips and mouth are

controlled by muscles. The stimulation of this

tissue my secondarily stimulate circulation to

salivary elements. It may also cause minute

fluctutions in oral tissues, a kind of oral yoga,

reducing a tendency toward hardening. There

may also be a temperature factor involved.

Back to self deprication. The concern of making

mistakes or looking foolish may self consciously

increase as we age. The may cause a person to

neutralize their facial expressions. It may be

benefical to make a conscious effort to work

those muscles by pursing the lips or even

making funny faces, in private.

I wouldn't even be surprised if excessive

nasal tissue and nasal hair were significant

factors in the tendency of older people to

breath through their mouths. Aggravated,

perhaps, by a reduction in lung effort. It

takes more work to breath through the

nose.

Society forces social strictures on people that

often conflict with their well being. Breaking

those strictures, one may feel awkward. But

one must keep an eye to the practicalities of

existence, even if they set one to ridicule.

Gum tissue that is left to dry,

will not likely serve its intended purposes.