Insufficient saliva in the mouth is the main reason you get
mouth dryness. Dry mouth mainly results in symptoms like dry and sticky mouth, and
trouble swallowing. You might not be able to even talk properly if you have a
dry mouth. Getting the root cause treated is the best way to treat the
resultant dryness. You may be able to have benefit from home remedies or
over-the-counter drugs but if they are not able to provide you the relief, you
need to visit your dentist.
Treating dry mouth at home
There are actually a lot of things that you can do at home
to treat your dry mouth. However, it would be beneficial to know about the
exact reasons for dry mouth. There can be a lot of medical reasons for the
mouth dryness. Diabetes, hormonal imbalance and autoimmune disorders are among
the top medical reasons for the mouth dryness. Certain treatments such as
chemotherapy and radiation can also affect the flow of saliva in the mouth.
The greatest benefit of treating mouth dryness is that it
can help you prevent certain oral and dental health disorders including
cavities, gum disease, mouth sores and oral thrush. Few things that you can do
at home to treat mouth dryness may include:
- Chewing sugar free gum or sucking sugar free candy
- Having frequent water intake throughout the day
- Using over-the-counter artificial saliva
- Running humidifier in the bedroom at night
The main purpose of the above mentioned methods is to
stimulate the production of saliva in the mouth. Moreover, you will have to make
sure that you are not breathing from your mouth. That flow of air can also
cause mouth dryness.
Other things that you can do to prevent mouth dryness mainly
include:
- Quitting use of tobacco
- Reducing the consumption of caffeine
- Using alcohol-free mouthwash
If simple methods for stimulation of saliva production are
not working for you, you can consider getting over-the-counter medicines for
saliva production. Majority of those medications are safe but you have to make
sure that you consult with your dentist before picking any particular
medication.
Getting the problem treated professionally
If home remedies and over-the-counter medications are not
providing you the relief, you need to consult with your dentist because your
salivary glands are not responding to the simple stimulation methods. In this
scenario, your dentist may suggest you the use of prescription medicines. If
you are on the meds which have been inhibiting the production of saliva, your
dentist may be able to suggest you the alternative medicines for your medical
condition. Or they may be able to get in contact with your health physician to
discuss an alternate.
Dry mouth is not only uncomfortable but it can actually
cause real harm to your oral and dental health. Therefore, you need to discuss
this problem with your dentist on emergency basis.
