What Is Dry Mouth and How You Can Prevent It

Dry mouth, or also known as “cotton mouth”, is a rather common condition where the body is not able to produce enough saliva. This leaves the mouth lacking of moisture and feeling dry. Everyone can have dry mouth every now and then, especially if they are nervous, upset or under constant stress. Dry mouth may also be a side effect of certain medications or drinking too much coffee. Or, it may also be the result of an underlying and possibly undiagnosed medical condition. When it comes to dry mouth, it’s important to know what caused it. This is because taking care of the underlying cause is the only way to know the best remedy for your particular case of dry mouth. There are, however, things that you can do to relieve yourself of dry mouth temporarily, and even prevent it.

  • Chew sugar-free gum or suck on sugar-free hard candies. Either of the two can help stimulate the flow of saliva. Be careful, though, as Xylitol, an ingredient found in sugar-free gum and candies, have been found to cause diarrhea or cramps if one consumes a large enough amount.
  • Don’t drink coffee too much. Try your best to limit your daily caffeine intake. This is because caffeine has been known to make the mouth drier.
  • Use alcohol-free mouthwashes. Mouthwashes containing alcohol as an ingredient can cause the mouth to dry, so try to stay away from those.
  • Stop tobacco use. Whether smoking or chewing, stop all sorts of tobacco use if you want to remedy and prevent dry mouth.
  • Avoid both sugary and acidic foods. Any food that’s full of sugar and acids can increase your risk for tooth decay, as well as dry mouth.
  • Brush regularly and use fluoride toothpaste. While this is more to help take care of your teeth than treating dry mouth, it’s been known that those with healthy teeth and gums rarely, if at all, suffer from dry mouth.
  • Drink water regularly. Most of the time, the recommended eight glasses of water a day is not enough. Try drinking two, three, or even more glasses than the recommended number if you can.
  • Use mouthwash designed for dry mouth. Mouthwashes containing Xylitol are designed for those with dry mouth, and at the same time, offer some degree of protection against tooth decay.
  • Breathe through your nose. Some people breathe through their mouth, which can make leave their mouth feeling dry. If you’re one of those types of people, make an effort to breathe through your nose and see if it helps.
  • Use a room humidifier. Using a room humidifier can help add moisture to the air at night, which can help prevent your mouth from drying up when you wake up.

Most, if not all, of these steps should help improve your condition, if not eliminate it. However, if symptoms persist, consult with Dr. Ted Haines. Dr. Haines offers dry mouth reducing items at his office and can work with you to see which items are a best fit for you. Call today at 360-568-8577. Visit our website at www.tedhainesdds.com.