How to get rid of dry mouth

6th Apr 2023 Health Conditions

From drinking plenty of water to checking your medication labels, here’s everything you need to know about keeping your mouth moist. Say goodbye to discomfort and hello to a happy, hydrated mouth

If a lack of saliva makes it hard for you to lick envelopes or even to talk comfortably, you will definitely want to moisten your mouth. First, talk to your doctor about what might be causing your mouth to be so parched.

"If a lack of saliva makes it hard for you to lick envelopes or even to talk comfortably, you will want to moisten your mouth"

Consider an over-the-counter saliva substitute such as Saliveze, Glandosane, Salivix pastilles or BioXtra gel. Simply by drinking plenty of water, you will keep your mouth moist, as will the other tricks we are about to explore.

Check your medicine cabinet

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Dozens of medications can cause you to have a dry mouth. Check the label of any you are taking, and if a dry mouth is listed as a side effect, ask your doctor if you can switch to another drug.

"Dozens of medications can cause you to have a dry mouth, so check the label of any you are taking"

Frequent culprits include many anti-histamines and decongestants, as well as enalapril, fluoxetine, amlodipine and paroxetine.

Just add water

Carry a water bottle with you and sip water frequently. Swirl each sip around in your mouth before you swallow.
To stimulate saliva flow, squeeze in some lime or lemon juice or add half a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar.

Make your mouth water

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Chew sugar-free gum or suck on sugar-free boiled sweets to stimulate saliva flow. Sugar-free gums that contain xylitol can also help to reduce cavity-causing bacteria.
Keep a chilli-pepper shaker on the dinner table. The same “hot stuff” that makes your eyes water and your nose run can make your saliva pour forth. Add just a touch to spice up your meals.

Avoid these drought-inducers

Limit your intake of coffee and other caffeinated drinks, as well as alcohol. Drinking these to excess will cause you to urinate more frequently, making your body lose more fluids.
Forgo fizzy drinks, even those without caffeine. If your mouth is dry, you do not have enough saliva to break down the acid they contain
Say no to salty foods or highly acidic drinks like orange juice and lemonade. These can cause pain if your mouth is too dry. Choose apple or pear juice, or milky drinks instead.
Keep sugary snacks to a minimum.
Stop smoking. Tobacco smoke dries up saliva.

Add a little night moisture

To avoid your mouth drying out at night, use a humidifier or vapourizer in your bedroom.

Swishing well

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If you use a proprietary mouthwash, choose one like Corsodyl which doesn’t contain alcohol, which dries your mouth and can irritate already-sensitive gum tissues.
For a homemade mouthwash, mix a large pinch of salt and a large pinch of bicarbonate of soda in a cup of warm water. Rinse your mouth and spit. This solution will counteract acids in your mouth and rinse away infectious agents.

Teeth treatments

Choose a toothpaste that doesn’t contain sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), which can irritate mouth tissues. Most brands include it, but health-food shops sell brands without SLS.
Make sure you brush and floss thoroughly. Saliva is essential for clearing away food debris in your mouth, and when your mouth is dry, food can cling.

Keep your mouth shut

When you inhale through your nose, you moisturise the air going into your body. But when your sinuses are blocked, you naturally do a lot of mouth breathing, which means you are taking in a lot of dry air.

"When you inhale through your nose, you moisturise the air going into your body"

Take steps to treat a sinus condition or allergies, and you will also help to prevent a dry mouth.

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