Be it short-term or permanent, dry mouth is uneasy. Most of the time it leads to bad breath and food intolerance in a few cases. The reasons for dry mouth can vary – from chemotherapy sessions to side effects of some medications and other infections. Whatever the cause, the result is uncomfortable. To avoid this, here are some dentist recommended expert tips for dry mouth relief. Check them out.
Tips and tricks to avoid dry mouth
- Avoid excess caffeine intake and cold beverages
- Sip water on regular intervals to keep dry mouth at bay
- Chew on some sugarless gummies or lozenges. This helps production of saliva keeping dry mouth away
- Avoid smoking or alcohol intake
- Use alcohol-free mouthwashes and mouth fresheners to avoid aggravating the problem
- Take moistened foods. For example: add more soupy and buttery foods that keep mouth well moistened and help stay hydrated
- Fluoride-rich toothpaste or rinser can help
- Adding a humidifier to the sleeping room can increase moisture in the air one breathes in thereby promoting dry mouth relief at night.
What is dry mouth and what causes it?
As mentioned earlier, dry mouth is a condition where there is an absence of saliva in the mouth. The condition is most commonly noticed in aged people who consume a lot of medications. Dry mouth, in most cases, is a side effect of some drugs and is complained by chemotherapy patients. Any surgery done on the neck or head area can also lead to dry mouth in the patient. Excess spicy food intake, antidepressants are other reasons that affect a wet mouth.
What happens if left unattended?
When left untreated, dry mouth could lead to a condition called Halitosis (bad breath), gingivitis (gum disease), oral cavities and other infections in the mouth. Treating Xerostomia (dry mouth) on time with proper intervention prevents many oral problems especially, saves one from embarrassing in public.
Long term dry mouth symptoms can further lead to cuts in the lips and tongue. It also makes one unable to chew, swallow or even consume food. Since salivary glands are in an inactive state in a dry mouth, external moistening of the mouth is needed.
If the above mentioned tricks and tips to avoid dry mouth do not work for you, try visiting your nearby dentist. Talking to the dentist helps to find out the underlying concern and cause for dry mouth. Prolonged dealing with dry mouth can lead to permanent oral ailments.
