Treatment for Dry Mouth

The treatment for dry mouth depends on its cause. For many years, dry mouth was thought to be a natural part of aging. Now, most experts agree that dry mouth cases are often side effects of the many medications people take, rather than aging itself.

Dry Mouth Causes

Over 400 medications cause dry mouth, these include blood pressure medications, antidepressants, asthma drugs, antihistamines, muscle relaxants, and painkillers.Dry mouth can also be caused by:

• Radiation treatment for head and neck cancer; in killing cancer, the radiation also kills the salivary glands

• CPAP machines

• Chemotherapy drugs

• Various chronic diseases, including

  • Diabetes

  • Parkinson's disease

  • Sjogren's syndrome

Treatment for Dry Mouth

Although you cannot “cure” dry mouth, there are many things that you can do to treat it and stimulate saliva throughout the day.

• Drink water frequently to keep your mouth moist and loosen mucus. Carry water with you to sip throughout the day and keep water by your bed at night. Add a teaspoon of xylitol and swish it in your mouth before you swallow.

• Suck on xylitol hard candies, ice chips, or sugar-free popsicles throughout the day. Chew sugarless gum (that contains xylitol but not sorbitol). The sucking and chewing actions help stimulate saliva flow.

• Moisten foods with broths, soups, sauces, gravy, creams, and butter. Eat foods cool or at room temperature.

• Avoid mouth rinses or that contain alcohol or peroxide. These ingredients will further dry out your mouth. Try CTx3 for protection and relief. This rinse is packed with xylitol and buffers that keep your tissues hydrated and less sore.

• Avoid salty foods, dry foods (for example, crackers, toast, cookies, dry bread, dry meats/poultry/fish, dried fruit, bananas) and foods and beverages with high sugar content.

• Avoid drinks containing alcohol or caffeine (for example, coffees, teas, some colas, chocolate-containing drinks). Alcohol increases water loss by triggering frequent urination. Alcohol, as well as caffeine, also dries out the mouth. Also avoid acidic beverages, such as any fruit juices (orange, apple, grape, grapefruit) and tomato juice.

• Use a moisturizer on your lips to minimize irritation.

• Rinse your mouth with water after each meal.

• Have xylitol after each meal to stimulate saliva flow and neutralize the pH that rises when you eat.

• Use a cold humidifier to increase the humidity in your home, especially at night.

• Use Xylimelts at night.
  Xylimelts are little xylitol disks that stick to your gum above your tooth and dissolve throughout the night while you sleep. The xylitol helps to moisten your mouth, and are available in mild mint and mint free ones. Mint can be irritating to people with auto immune disorders and people with very delicate mouths.

If these steps don't improve your dry mouth, talk to your doctor or dentist. It could be that medications or another condition are the cause. Medications are one of the most common causes of dry mouth. Long-term relief from your dry mouth may mean stopping or changing your medication or its dosage or addressing underlying health issues.

What are your biggest struggles in dealing with dry mouth, and what have you found that works for you?