Home Remedies to Cure Dry Mouth

Dry mouth, also called xerostomia, is that feeling you might get when you do not have enough saliva (in your mouth).

To rinse your mouth after eating. It is your body’s normal lubricant. It is made of water, carbon dioxide, and proteins needed to help stimulate salivary gland production and serve as a neutralizer and sweeper for oral bacteria.

Dry Mouth Causes:

Dry mouth, however, is merely a symptom of an underlying condition, not an actual condition itself. Most of the time, it is simply a side effect of some medications you take for colds or allergies.

Other causes of dry mouth include certain foods, certain types of medication, and certain types of dental equipment.

Diuretics:

Diuretics, which include all over-the-counter and prescription drugs that work to reduce your body’s ability to produce urine, include such products asiazid, diuretics, and thiazides. Certain medications, especially diuretics, can dry out the mouth over some time. 

Excess Sugar Consumption:

Foods that cause dry mouth include those with high amounts of sugar, especially refined sugar, and those that contain large amounts of alcohol.

Smoking:

Smoking also causes dry mouth over time because of the effects of nicotine on the respiratory system.

Certain medications and dental equipment also cause dry mouth.

Wearing Dentures:

For instance, if you wear dentures that do not fit properly into your mouth, they may not fit well enough to permit your saliva to flow freely. Likewise, if your dentures do not fit properly, they may not stay in place as well, which can lead to dry mouth over time.

Dental Instruments:

In addition, certain dental instruments, especially those used during procedures like root canal treatment of the mouth. That can cause the tongue to move farther forward, blocking the flow of saliva and decreasing the amount of saliva in your mouth that can flow into the mouth clean your teeth. If this happens, you could be suffering from dry mouth from dental instruments, including toothbrushes, power tools, and other dental equipment.

Tooth Decay:

Tooth decay is also one of the most common symptoms or topics of discussion for dry mouth dry. If you have a cavity in your teeth, your saliva cannot flow as freely into the mouth as it should, so there is less saliva to help with digestion.

This problem is generally treated by a special type of dentist called fluoridated pastes. Fluoride will keep your teeth properly enameled and maintain teeth and mouth good health, which will prevent the build-up of bacteria into your mouth, which can cause dental decay.

Hypothyroidism:

One of the more common topics of discussion of dry mouth is hypothyroidism, also known as an underactive thyroid. Hypothyroidism results from an underactive thyroid, which various medications and health conditions may often cause. Some of the most common causes of hypothyroidism include medications that contain Levothyroxine, which is used to treat an underactive thyroid. The use of antipsychotic medications, which usually slows down metabolism and affects the pituitary gland. Certain types of mouth surgery limit the amount of oxygen entering the body and causes the thyroid to make less of the thyroid hormone.

Blood Pressure Variations:

If you are already dealing with low blood pressure topics, your physician may recommend using a low-sugar sugarless gum or other remedies such as over-the-counter medications, as well as mouthwashes.

As with dry mouth due to other diseases, you should wait until your blood pressure is under control before using any medications.

Furthermore, it would help wait until after your medication has stopped before you begin using any mouth medications, such as mouthwashes or medications intended to treat allergies.

Sleep Apnea:

Another condition that causes dry mouth and other medical problems are sleep apnea. This condition causes pauses in breathing while you sleep, even if no external stimuli are present. To treat this condition, your primary care physician may recommend a CPAP machine or airway devices to keep the airway of your mouth to remain open during sleep. Other effective treatments include using a humidifier in your bedroom at night and medications designed to increase saliva production.

Dehydration or Heat Stroke:

Medical conditions such as dehydration or heat stroke can lead to dry mouth as well. Dehydration occurs when the body loses liquids, usually through vomiting or excessive exercising, leaving the person thirsty and dehydrated.

Heatstroke occurs when the body’s temperature drops below a certain point for some time. A person with a severe medical condition like diabetes, for instance, can easily become extremely dehydrated. These two medical conditions are commonly known as ketoacidosis, which can be treated properly.

If you suspect that you are experiencing either of these conditions, you should immediately contact your doctor and get emergency treatment, which can prevent permanent damage to the mouth.

Dry Mouth Symptoms:

Other dry mouth reasons include an offensive, stale, scratchy taste in the mouth and an intense feeling of dryness or burning. There are also symptoms like gum tenderness or soreness in some cases, indicating that you have a more serious condition like a cracked tooth.

Other dry mouth conditions include soreness in the arms or legs due to an extended period of sitting or standing, nausea or dizziness, dry mouth or cough, or sensitivity to hot or cold.

If any of these symptoms remain for more than 24 hours, you should visit your doctor. You should never wait to see if these symptoms clear up on their own without seeking medical treatment, as waiting too long can only make the problem worse.

Home Remedies:

Dry mouth (xerostomia) is more common than many people think. Although most people associate dry mouth symptoms with bad breath, it is, in fact, a warning sign of several serious dental and health conditions. If dry mouth continues for too long, it can damage your dental and overall health, and it can eventually lead to pain and discomfort around the mouth, throat, and tongue. If you suspect that you have a dry mouth, consult your dentist as soon as possible.

In addition to the treatment options mentioned above, you can also use a home remedy for a dry mouth caused by a dry mouth, known as xerostomia. These home remedies target the symptoms of dryness of the mouth: the lack of saliva in your mouth and help maintain good health. 

Instead of increasing saliva production in the mouth through diet and other lifestyle changes, xerostomia works by supplying saliva throughout the mouth through a plastic tube placed into the upper mouth. It works because saliva increases the rate at which food passes through the stomach, causing the stomach to release surplus food through the mouth.

  • The most effective way to treat mouth dryness permanently is to gargle the mouth with saltwater or herbal saltwater properly.
  • use sugarless gum or suck on sugarless hard candy to stimulate your saliva flow into the mouth and maintain oral health
  • Try easy-to-swallow formulas, such as liquids. Avoid under-the-tongue forms
  • To prevent dehydration in your mouth, do not skip your morning or evening sugary meals. Whenever possible, see your dentist evaluate your oral health and brush your teeth and tongue often with a toothbrush and floss. Consult your dentist if you’re taking prescription medications that cause dehydration of your mouth.

How To Treat Mouth Dryness?

The goal to treat dry mouth and maintain good health is to:

  • Manage any underlying condition causing dry mouth.
  • Prevent tooth decay.
  • Increase saliva flow in your mouth.

Dry mouth treatment often contains many steps. First, your dentist will review your medications to see if they are causing your mouth to remain dry. You may take other medicines instead of that.

If not, you can follow these steps to ease dry mouth and maintain good health:

  • Avoid using decongestants and antihistamines whenever possible.
  • Sip water before taking capsules or tablets. The water will moisten your dry mouth.
  • Take medicines in the morning, not at night. Dry mouth conditions at night are more likely to cause mouth diseases such as cavities.
  • or take medications that control salivary gland production into your mouth, such as Accutane or minoxidil, which is also the reason for dry mouth medically

A dry mouth or halitosis due to dehydration is usually easy to fix. The best way to treat dehydration of the mouth and keep good health is to: drink plenty of water to replenish your body’s water supply and saliva levels and avoid dehydrating liquids such as sodas and juices.

It’s also an important topic to promote salivary gland production. It protects your mouth and teeth from decay and disease. Some dry mouth remedies can help you stimulate salivary gland production in your mouth and improve symptoms.

Chewing and sucking help stimulate salivary flow into the mouth. Try:

  • Ice cubes or sugar-free ice pops.
  • To use Sugar-free hard candy or sugarless gum that contains xylitol.
  • Water or other sugarless fluids are sipped frequently throughout the day.

Other Products To Treat Dry Mouth:

  • Artificial products help you to stimulate salivary gland production inside your mouth. These products are often available as a rinse or spray.
  • Toothpaste and mouthwashes specially made for dry mouth.
  • Lip balm.
  • A cool-mist humidifier, especially if you breathe through your mouth at night.
  • Research has shown that Decongestant and antihistamine drugs can help alleviate some of the symptoms of dry mouth. You can purchase decongestant drugs at your local pharmacy or drugstore, while over-the-counter antihistamines are available at many different health and nutrition stores, including grocery stores. These can help make swallowing food easier into your mouth, and in some cases, can help prevent you from experiencing symptoms like nausea or dizziness due to the change in eating habits. Although both adults and children can take them, you should still talk to your doctor or dentist before taking them because the safety of these medications is not fully understood.

How do I Maintain Oral Health?

You can also try these other steps to keep your mouth moist, which may help improve mouth dryness. 

The given topics help you a lot to keep your mouth moisten:

  • Take on sugar-free candy or chew sugar-free gum, specifical ones with xylitol. Try to avoid acidic ones like a lemon that may soften your teeth.
  • Take on ice chips or sugar-free ice pops. Never chew ice, as it can damage your teeth and mouth tissues. These sucking and chewing actions help stimulate salivary flow in your mouth. Remember that sugar, candies, ice pops, and gum may soften your teeth’ enamel and mouth tissues. To minimize the risk factors of cavities and tooth wear, use them only in moderate amounts.
  • Drink a lot of water to help keep your mouth moist and loosen mucus into your mouth. Keep a water bottle with you to sip throughout the day, and keep water by your bed at night.
  • Brush with fluoride toothpaste, use fluoride rinse water, and see your dentist regularly. Avoid using commercial mouth rinses or mouthwashes that possess Alcohol and peroxide. These ingredients will dry out your mouth.
  • Breathe through your nose, not from your dry mouth, as much as you can.
  • Use a room vaporizer to maintain moisture in bedroom air which helps to keep your dry mouth moist.
  • Use an over-the-counter artificial saliva substitute for your mouth and maintain good oral health.
  • Use moistened foods with broths, soups, sauces, gravy, creams, and butter or margarine. Eat soft, moist foods that remain cool or at room temperature. Don’t go for dry food.
  • Notice the early symptoms of dry mouth
  • Avoid salty foods, dry foods (such as crackers, toast, cookies, dry bread, dry meats/poultry/fish, dried fruit, foods and beverages with high sugar levels.
  • Avoid drinks having Alcohol or caffeine (like coffees, teas, some colas, and chocolate-containing drinks). Use of Alcohol increases water loss by triggering frequent urination. Also, avoid using acidic beverages, such as fruit juices (orange, apple, grape, grapefruit) and tomato juice.

What do Dental Clinics like the Mayo Clinic Suggest to their Patients?

  • As per a few clinics like mayo clinic doctors or dentists, it is recommended to add a humidifier to your home to maintain moist conditions in your home. And in case of severe gum problems, reach out to the proper dental procedures like surgeries etc.
  • To treat dry mouth caused by diabetes, your health care provider will likely prescribe antihypertensive medicines such as warfarin acetate or glatiramer acetate to control high blood pressure.

Conclusion:

However, there are some common causes of dry mouth highlighted in this article dry mouth that you can easily prevent by brushing your teeth and using suitable dental and oral care products. 

Two of the most common reasons for dry mouth are not cleaning your teeth well and not flossing regularly.

The most severe cases of dry mouth may require a visit to the emergency room.

There are several causes of a dry mouth, including dry mouth due to the onset of diabetes, kidney disease, hypoglycemia, and severe dehydration.

If that is the reason, you should immediately see your primary care physician to maintain your oral health. Depending on the cause of your condition, your doctor will prescribe specific treatment methods.

While there are many causes of dry mouth, chewing certain foods can worsen symptoms. For example, some people chew gum or certain hard cheeses, tea leaves, spices, and dried fruits. If you regularly start to experience symptoms like these, or if your doctor has recommended oral surgery, it is best to avoid the tempting foods and stop chewing immediately. 

Taking preventive measures is the best way to maintain good oral health. Keep your mouth medically reviewed after some time. this article has tried to cover up all the topics related to the mouth, which remain dry all the time.

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By Elena Blair

Elena Blair is a distinguished authority in the realm of pediatric dentistry and dental health, with a wealth of experience and a dedication to improving the oral health of children. She holds a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree from the renowned University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Dentistry, where she excelled in her studies and developed a deep passion for pediatric dental care.

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