Despite being uncomfortable, dry mouth alone is not a severe issue as long as it is not persistent. If it is, it can lead to various long-term health issues, ranging from irritating to dangerous. Someone who suffers from chronic dry mouth will likely experience mouth sores, splits at the corners of the mouth, cracked lips, increased plaque buildup & a greater risk of tooth decay & gum disease. You might even start to have nutrition issues, because the lack of saliva makes it more difficult to break down food when you eat.

Even if your dry mouth does not seem to be persistent, it is important to stay on top of treating it. The good news is that treatment is simple for most cases of dry mouth. First, make sure you stay hydrated by sipping on water throughout the day. For your dental & overall health, you should drink lots of water anyway! Dehydration, which dry mouth can be a sign of, is a serious health risk.

Other simple things you can do to treat dry mouth include chewing sugarless gum & limiting the salt, sugar & caffeinated drinks in your diet. Some people might recommend sucking on an ice cube or sugarless hard candy, but this can actually damage your teeth, so dont do it! You can also purchase nonprescription saliva substitutes over the counter to reduce your current issues.

If you use tobacco or drink alcohol, cut back on those or find a way to quit. Even if you dont think smoking or drinking is the root cause, those activities can irritate a dry mouth, so you should limit or stop them entirely. Plus, theyre just bad for you!

The best treatment for dry mouth always depends on the specific cause, so if home remedies or over-the-counter solutions dont prevent your dry mouth, it can indicate a more serious underlying health issue. In serious cases it is best to visit a physician or dentist who can work with you to figure out the root cause of your dry mouth & help you treat it.

Dr. M. Azadeh Afzali, Founder & Clinical Director of Lifetime Dental, set out to create a world-class dental practice that would provide long-term family dental services in Lake Forest, El Toro & neighboring Orange County communities. She incorporates the latest state-of-the-art advances in dental technology & brings her experience & expertise in all aspects of dentistry including Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Implants, General Dentistry, Invisalign & more. Dr. Afzali takes the time to carefully listen to your questions & address your concerns. She employs a preventative approach & views oral health as an integral part of complete body health. Her standard of excellence in personalized dental care enables her to provide the high-quality dental services her patients deserve.

A graduate of the prestigious University of Missouri in Kansas City Dental School, one of the best dental schools in the country, Dr. Afzali, your Lake Forest Dentist, received the Exceptional Academic Achievement Scholarship & Deans Academic Honor Roll for high academic performance. She also received honors in the periodontal program & was selected for Early Completion of Degree Requirements & received Acknowledgment for Significant Contribution made in the Advancement of Scientific Knowledge & its Application to Patient Care. Dr. Afzalis contributions & dedication to the dental profession has been having a positive impact on the standard of care & patient education. For over twenty years her focus has been on training dentists for providing superior dental care to their patients. Besides her major success in her private practices in Chicago & Southern California, she has achieved excellence in technical & customer care. Dr. Afzali is happily married to her husband of twenty-seven years. Their two children have been the center of their lives. Her hobbies are sports, gardening, interior design, reading & self-improvement studies. Being a humanitarian, she actively contributes to the causes which bring about a better world.

Insight, experience, expertise & dedication to the highest quality of patient care are the hallmarks of Dr. Afzalis dental practice & what has made her one of the most respected dentists. She founded her first practice in 1990 & has been delivering quality dental services ever since. You can count on Dr. Afzalis extensive training, combined skills art & dentistry, & compassion to provide you with the best possible dental care thats as comfortable & convenient as it is long-lasting & beautiful.

William Martey, DMD MD is a board certified Oral & Maxillofacial surgeon; specializing in dental implants, oral pathology, wisdom tooth extraction, bone grafting, sinus augmentation, ridge modification, oral cancer exam, impact canines, IV sedation certified.

He is a dual-degree surgeon whose practice is limited to oral / maxillofacial & reconstructive surgery. Dr. Martey began his interesting professional career at the prestigious Kings College of the University of London (UK) where he obtained his dental degree & became a licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons (UK). He then continued his education at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia where he graduated as an Omicron Kappa Upsilon in the School of Dental Medicine. He was accepted at the University of Southern Californias Keck School of Medicine where he obtained his medical degree & went on to successfully complete his rigorous residency in oral & Maxillofacial surgery as well as an internship in general surgery. Dr. Martey currently practices the full scope of oral & maxillofacial surgery.

Dr. Rudat originally received her training as a dentist in Saint Petersburg, Russia. She further received her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree & OKU award for academic excellence from the University of Loma Linda School of Dentistry in 2012.

Dr. Chong is one of a few dual Ivy League Trained Endodontists in the state of California. He attended the University of Pennsylvania for his dental studies where he earned his DMD with Honors. Dr. Chong earned his Masters in Medical Science & certificate in Endodontics at the prestigious Harvard University.

Dr. Pedram Fakheri completed his Bachelor Degree in Biology from Yeshiva University. He received his D.M.D. degree from the University of Medicine & Dentistry New Jersey. Immediately following graduation, he continued his surgical training in Advanced Education in Periodontics & Implant Surgery & received his specialty certificate & M.S.D. degree from Loma Linda University. Dr. Fakheri is board certified by the American Academy of Periodontology.

Dr. Fakheri strongly believes in comprehensive patient care & providing his patients with variety of treatment options. Dr. Fakheri is admired & highly respected by his patients for his caring attitude, knowledge, skill & being up to date on the latest in Periodontal techiques.

As I provide periodontal procedures for many dental practices in southern California, timely & reliable support is essential to me. I have been very happy with the customer service by Lifetime Dental & their friendly staff.

Dr. Chang earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine in New York in 2008. From there, he completed externship programs at Cornell University & St. Josephs Hospital, as well as implant training at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine.

After returning back to his hometown of Irvine, California, Dr. Chang has been working with offices equipped with state-of-the-art technology in the Orange County area for the past 11 years. Through his experience, Dr. Chang has gained knowledge in dentistry that enables him to make the best decisions to provide the most predictable & successful results to his patients.

Meet Connie Zhang, our Office Manager! She has worked in the field of dentistry for over 20 years. She graduated from the China Medical University School of Dentistry & received the Certificate of Advanced Training from Prosthodontics & Orthodontics Program at the China Medical University School of Dentistry. She further attended the National Dental Board Examination & continuing education courses at Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, as well as receiving the Certificate of Advanced Implant Esthetic placement. Connie is a positive, caring individual. Her excellent communication skills & organized personality drove her to transition from the purely clinical aspect of dentistry to dental management & training, thus allowing her to bring a unique style of care & understanding to our patients. Connie enjoys travel, tennis, reading & gospel music.

I strive to give my patients clean & healthy teeth & gums so that they dont develop periodontal disease & can have a bright & pretty smile. A lot of diseases start from the oral cavity, so if we keep everything clean & healthy that will help your overall health. I always wanted to be a hygienist since high school. I love not only doing the cleanings, & helping patients stay healthy, but also conversing with them & hearing their stories. Sometimes patients just like having someone to talk to, & I love talking with patients.

Efficiency, high-quality work & professionalism is what I try to bring to our patients. I always treat them with honesty & courtesy, like I would a member of my own family. I like to help people & alleviate their pain thats why I do what I do.