What Can I Use for Dry Mouth

There’s a medical term for that sticky, thick feeling you get in your mouth when realize it’s going dry and you find yourself struggling to swallow. This condition is called Xerostomia, but you probably know it as dry mouth. It’s when your salivary glands are not producing enough saliva.

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In the short-term, dry mouth is annoying, but when you suffer from ongoing dry mouth, it can cause more serious health issues for your mouth, gums, and teeth. It’s important to understand why you are experiencing it, identifying the symptoms and useful tips for dry mouth relief.

Know what’s making your mouth dry

Think about when you notice your mouth doesn’t have enough saliva and it feels dry. Dry mouth occurs for a variety of reasons and can last just for a short time or a much longer one depending on what’s causing it.

Here are some common causes of dry mouth

• Taking a medication that’s either prescribed or over-the-counter.
  Read the label and check if dry mouth is a side effect of a drug you’re taking, even if it’s for a cold.
• Breathing through your mouth.
  Snoring while you sleep or breathing with your mouth open directly results in dry mouth.
• Using tobacco products.
  Smoking and chewing tobacco products may seem to increase your saliva production, but they actually do the opposite.
• Chemotherapy drugs and radiation treatments.
  Both can have a temporary or long-term impact on how much saliva your glands can produce.
• Other health issues.
  Diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, stroke, and other medical conditions can cause dry mouth.
• Alcohol and caffeine.
  Drinking alcohol and caffeinated beverages can intensify your dry mouth symptoms.
• Dehydration.
  When you have a stomach illness, are not drinking enough water or are spending increased time in the sun, you’re more likely to develop dry mouth.
• Eating sugary and acidic foods.
  These can also cause tooth decay as a result of decreased saliva production.

Dry mouth is fairly common, but if you aren’t familiar with it, you may not realize you even have it. The symptoms can vary, but there are some key ones to help you recognize when you’re suffering from dry mouth.

Know the symptoms of dry mouth

• A sticky or dry feeling in your mouth
• Trouble when you chew, swallow or speak
• Bad breath
• Dry or sore throat and hoarseness
• Burning or tingling of your mouth or tongue
• Dry or rough tongue
• A change in your sense of taste
• Problems with wearing dentures
• Chapped or cracked lips

You may be asking, “What can I use for my dry mouth?”  Whether you experience it based on your daily habits, or you’ve noticed it after starting a new medication, there are simple ways to relieve your dry mouth. Brushing and flossing more often, sipping on water and using a humidifier to add moisture to your bedroom are home-remedy tips for dry mouth.

So, what can you take for dry mouth? There are a variety of products specifically designed to help promote more saliva production. These range from over-the-counter products to medications prescribed by your doctor or dentist.

Try these products to alleviate your symptoms

• • Alcohol-free mouthwash
  • Xylitol lozenges or melts
  • Sugar-free gum and chews
  • Sugar-free mints
  • Moisturizing mouth spray and saliva substitutes

SmartMouth Dry Mouth Activated Mouthwash and SmartMouth Dry Mouth Dual-Action Mints both offer temporary relief of dry mouth symptoms. Had enough of that sticky feeling? Soothe and moisturize your dry mouth with SmartMouth Dry Mouth Rinse!

Now that you know more about the causes, use these tips for dry mouth to find the right temporary relief for your symptoms.

Sources:
Mayo Clinic – dry mouth – diagnosis & treatment
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-mouth/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20356052