Dry mouth, or xerostomia, is a state where there is a lack of saliva flow in your mouth. If not treated, xerostomia can lead to problems with eating, talking and initiate halitosis (bad breath). It can also aggravate periodontal disease and trigger an increase of the number of cavities.
Xerostomia can be caused by many things, including drugs, bad habits and medical conditions. If your doctor knows what exactly is causing your mouth to be dry, he or she may modify the drugs that you are taking, or prescribe you new drugs that stimulate the production of saliva in your mouth.
There are other tips to use at home to help you decrease the sensation or oral dryness:
- If you are a smoker, do not smoke.
- Drink lots of water.
- Avoid eating spicy, salty or very acidic foods.
- Decrease drinking alcoholic beverages, as alcohol tends to dry your mouth even more.
- Avoid caffeine-containing drinks and foods, as caffeine also dries your mouth more.
- Chew your food slowly and thoroughly, and sip water with it before swallowing.
- You may have salivary substitutes or a mouth-gel to lubricate the inside of your mouth and make it feel less dry.
The information above should be used as a reference only. Any medical decision should not be taken before consulting a health care professional.
The masculine gender may have been more used in the article, but without prejudice, to make reading easier.
Category: questions and answers
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