Dry mouth is what happens when your mouth’s salivary glands aren’t creating enough saliva for your mouth to stay wet. It can be a result of medications, aging issues or menopause, among other issues. Saliva production is important to your oral health, working to neutralize acids caused by bacteria in your mouth, and helping to wash away food particles. Losing that production can not only be uncomfortable, but may even lead to serious dental issues if left untreated. If you’re experiencing dry mouth, try some of these home remedies:
Drink more water
Help keep your mouth wet by sipping on more water – but avoid caffeinated drinks that cause dehydration, such as coffee or soda.
Find over-the-counter saliva-producing products
Pick up an over-the-counter dry mouth spray, rinse or chewing gum. These products may help produce saliva.
Use ice chips
Suck on ice chips and sugar-free candy (but don’t bite down!) These are also great ways to help stimulate saliva flow.
Breathe through your nose
Breathing through your mouth can further dry out tissues, so try to breathe through your nose when you are resting. If that is not possible, consider using a humidifier at night to add some moisture to the room (and to your mouth).
Quit smoking
Smoking can cause and make dry mouth worse. Nicotine found in tobacco is also a vasoconstrictor, which means it constricts blood vessels and reduces blood flow to tissues, which can inhibit the tissue’s ability to repair itself.
As always, be sure to consult with your dentist!
