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.

We pride ourselves on taking the time to listen & get to know each patient as an individual. The entire team at Matthews Dental Care looks forward to seeing you soon & developing a relationship with you to build the bridge toward long-term trust & successful dental care. See why our patients cant stop smiling!

Our exceptional, friendly staff is our greatest asset. All of our dental assistants & hygienists are licensed professionals who pride themselves on their current dental techniques & outstanding patient communication. With unmatched quality & integrity, they are dedicated to achieving the best possible results for you & your family.

Since your comfort & health are our top priorities, Matthews Dental Cares staff is glad to assist you in any way. If you have any questions at all, from treatment options & sterilization to insurance concerns & paperwork, were here for you! We can assure you that youll enjoy your dental visit!

The doctors of Matthews Dental Care are part of a 36-year Matthews tradition of dental comfort & care. Dr. Palermo is a graduate of the Louisiana State University School of Dentistry; Dr. Surface is a graduate of the West Virginia University School of Dentistry; Dr. Clarke is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry &; Dr. Callahan is a graduate of University of North Carolina School of Dentistry.

Dedicated to providing you with the best that dentistry has to offer, they continually educate themselves & their staff on the latest techniques & approaches to offer state-of-the-art, comfortable & personalized dental care.

In their continuing education, the doctors have attended courses in cosmetic & restorative dentistry, implant dentistry, endodontic (root canal) dentistry & infection control. They are members of the American Dental Association, the North Carolina Dental Society, the Second District Dental Society & the Charlotte Dental Society.

Dr. Palermo is proud to have been a Matthews Dental Care partner since 1990. I feel very fortunate to have been able to provide customized, gentle, patient-focused care. We have been able to maintain the patients desires as the only focus & I am proud to see the long-lasting results of quality care. Dr. Palermo & his wife, Beth, & daughter, Emily, live in Cabarrus County. Their son, Ryan, & his wife, Noel, live in Raleigh. The Palermos are members of St. James Catholic Church in Concord. Dr. Palermo is an avid golfer & is on the Board of Directors of Cabarrus Country Club. The Palermos love to travel.

Dr. Palermo received his undergraduate degree from LSU, his dental degree from LSU School of Dentistry & advanced Hospital-based training at Carolinas Medical Center. Since graduating, he has continued his training throughout the years with a multitude of continuing education courses. Notably, he obtained dental implant experience through a year-long course continuum.

He is a member of the American Dental Association, the North Carolina Dental Society, the Charlotte Dental Society & is a Fellow in the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. He is also a member of local study clubs dedicated to the continual improvement of his dental practice.

Dr. Surface has a passion for creating beautiful smiles! He understands the needs of individuals & knows that no two patients are alike. He takes the time to get to know his patients on an individual basis & works with them to set goals & transform both smiles & lives. He builds strong relationships based on trust & communication. Whether your needs are cosmetic or restorative, Dr. Surface will work with you to achieve your desired results.

Dr. Surface graduated in 2000 from the West Virginia University School of Dentistry & joined Matthews Dental Care in 2001. He resides in Union County with his wife, Mary Catherine & their four children. Dr. Surfaces family is involved in their church & enjoys outdoor activities & a variety of sports.

I am very blessed to work & live in such a family oriented community! Dr. Surface adds: I love being out in the community & running into patients who cant stop smiling because theyre so happy with the results we achieved. People often comment on how the fears they used to have of going to the dentist are gone.

Being able to give patients beautiful & healthy smiles gives Dr. Surface something to smile about! He is a member of the American Dental Association, North Carolina Dental Society, Charlotte Dental Society & Seattle Study Club.

Dr. Clarke joined Matthews Dental Care in 2011 after relocating to Charlotte from Chicago where he completed his dental training & previously worked. Dr. Clarke, a native of suburban Atlanta, attended the University of Notre Dame for his undergraduate degree & completed his dental education at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry.

What I love about being part of Matthews Dental Care is getting to know our patients and their families. I love that we can take the time to listen to & understand our patients, put our patients at ease & achieve great results for each individual patient. I also thoroughly enjoy working with kids. I am truly blessed in that I love to come to work each day to be able to help solve a problem for a patient & transform a patients smile.

Dr. Clarke has completed extensive continuing education courses in multiple aspects of dentistry including cosmetic & restorative dentistry, sleep apnea, CAD/CAM technology as well as many others. When not working or continuing professional development, Dr. Clarke enjoys spending time with his wife, Danielle, their two children, Brendan and Grace & the family dog, Sampson. Along with his family, Dr. Clarke is a parishioner at St. Matthew Catholic Church. For recreation Dr. Clarke enjoys running, playing golf, studying Spanish, coaching youth sports & traveling.

Dr. Callahan treats his patients like family. He understands that trust, compassion & relationships are necessary to provide the dental care that everyone deserves. Through his extensive training, Dr. Callahan has developed a gentle approach. He prides himself on being thorough & working with patients to develop comprehensive treatment plans & achieve their perfect smile.

Dr. Callahan grew up in Charlotte & attended South Mecklenburg High School. He completed his undergraduate degree at Virginia Tech & dental education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Reflecting his passion for dentistry, he graduated with honors & distinction in community service. Following dental school, he pursued additional education by completing a General Practice Residency at the Dental College of Georgia. Here, Dr. Callahan learned advanced skills including the surgical placement of implants, sedation & esthetic dentistry.

He is married to his beautiful wife, Melissa, & they recently welcomed their first child, Amelia, to the family. They have a dog, Cosmo, & a cat, Jasper, who keep them active & entertained. Dr. Callahan enjoys the outdoors, various sporting activities & spending time with his family.

Melissa joined Matthews Dental Care in January 2008. She is typically the first smiling face you will see in our office. With Melissas strong background in customer service, making certain your visit is pleasant & easy is of the utmost importance to her. Melissas greatest treasures in life are her two children. When Melissa is not working, she enjoys traveling with her husband & working out. She also has a passion for cooking.

Cynthia joined Matthews Dental Care in 1991. She attended Puget Sound Institute of Technology in Seattle, Washington for Dental Assisting School. After working for years in the clinical side of the practice, Cynthia transitioned to the administrative team in 2013. Her favorite aspect of Matthews Dental Care is the compassionate & kind-hearted attention she provides to make patients feel welcomed & at ease. Cynthia enjoys being the mother of 5 wonderful boys & 1 granddaughter. She loves traveling with her husband, Maurice & cheering for the Dallas Cowboys.

Brittany joined Matthews Dental Care in 2018. She is a Charlotte native & is proud to have worked in customer service since 2008. Brittany enjoys welcoming patients into the office with her upbeat demeanor & working to make Matthews Dental Cares patients feel comfortable. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband & their two dogs. Additionally, Brittany loves to travel, cook & cheer on the Carolina Panthers.

Cassidy joined Matthews Dental Care in 2019. She earned her degree in Communications from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, and she has a passion for helping patients in any and every way possible. When not at work, she enjoys shopping, working out, and spending time with her dogs.