Dry mouth is a common problem that affects millions of Americans. It can be caused by many things, including medications, dehydration or simply not drinking enough water.
Dry mouth is different from a dry throat, even though they often occur together.
“Dry mouth is an uncomfortable condition that can make eating and drinking difficult,” says Dr. John Reeves, a dentist in Tulsa, Oklahoma. “It’s most common among seniors, but it can affect anyone.”
The good news: Dry mouth is easy to treat — and there are plenty of ways to help yourself if you’re suffering from the condition.
Here are some tips for dealing with dry mouth:
Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Sports drinks like Gatorade will also keep your body hydrated with electrolytes while providing energy and other nutrients.
Chew sugarless gum or suck on hard candies or mints throughout the day to increase saliva production and reduce dryness in your mouth.
Eat foods that are high in natural sugars — such as fruits, fruit juices and vegetables — which help stimulate saliva flow naturally.
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Dry mouth is a common side effect of many medications. It can also be a symptom of dehydration, which can occur if you don’t drink enough fluids or have an underlying condition that causes problems with your body’s fluid balance. Dry mouth can also be caused by certain medical conditions, such as Sjogren’s syndrome, which often affects both eyes and mouth.
Dry mouth may also be a side effect of radiation treatment for cancer or certain blood pressure medications.
In addition to causing bad breath, dry mouth can lead to tooth decay and gum disease because saliva helps protect teeth from bacteria and acid that can damage the enamel on teeth.
Dry mouth also makes it difficult for your body to digest food properly, as saliva contains enzymes that help break down food before it enters the intestinal tract. Without enough saliva, you may experience problems such as bloating after eating and an increased risk of developing diverticulitis (small pouches in the colon).
Dry mouth is a common condition that can be caused by many things. It can be caused by certain medications, such as some antihistamines, antidepressants, diuretics and even some heart medications. It can also be caused by some medical conditions such as Sjogren’s syndrome and diabetes. Dry mouth is also a side effect of radiation therapy for cancer treatment.
Dry mouth is usually treated with medications or lifestyle changes (such as avoiding tobacco products). If the dry mouth is caused by a medication you’re taking, your doctor may try changing the dose or switching you to another drug.
Avoiding tobacco products, reducing alcohol consumption and not chewing gum are all ways to reduce your risk of dry mouth. You may want to try using sugar-free gum or sugarless mints, which contain xylitol or sorbitol instead of sugar. These sugars may help moisturize your mouth and reduce dryness.
If you have trouble swallowing liquids because of dry mouth, try drinking them through a straw or adding ice chips to them before swallowing them down. This helps moisten the surface of your tongue and throat so it’s easier for liquids to slide down into your stomach more easily.
Dry mouth is a common problem that can affect anyone. It’s often associated with age, but it can also be caused by medications and other health conditions.
Dry mouth is a condition in which the mouth lacks enough saliva or mucus to keep it moist. Saliva helps protect the mouth from bacteria and also aids in digestion of food. Mucus protects against dryness and helps prevent bacteria from entering the body through the nose and mouth.
Saliva helps maintain healthy teeth by washing away food particles and neutralizing acids that form during chewing. Without saliva, your teeth may become more sensitive to hot or cold foods or drinks. You may also experience bad breath (halitosis), tooth decay and gum disease because saliva has a natural cleansing effect on your teeth.
Dry mouth is a common problem that can be caused by a number of factors. Some of these include:
Aging
Smoking or chewing tobacco
Certain medications such as those used to treat depression, anxiety, or high blood pressure
Leaving the mouth dry by not drinking enough water or eating food that causes saliva flow to decrease.
Gum chewing stimulates saliva flow and may be helpful in treating mild dry mouth. If you use gum, choose sugar-free varieties because they contain xylitol, an artificial sweetener that may help reduce the risk of cavities.
Dry mouth, or xerostomia, can be caused by a variety of factors. In some cases, it’s due to medication taken for another health condition. Other times, it’s a side effect of certain medications. Dry mouth can also be a symptom of diabetes or an autoimmune disease like Sjogren’s syndrome.
In addition to the discomfort of dry mouth itself, there are other issues that can result from this condition:
Bad breath: If you don’t have enough saliva in your mouth to wash away food particles and bacteria, bad breath will result.
Taste problems: Without enough saliva in your mouth, food may not taste as good as it normally does because the tongue is not moist enough to bring out all the subtle flavors that you would normally experience with a well-moistened tongue.