What Are the Best Ways to Manage Dry Mouth?

Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, is more than an uncomfortable condition. Dry mouth can lead to complications that affect your quality of life and oral health.

Saliva is an essential part of oral health, helping to buffer tooth enamel from acids and bacteria that can cause erosion and providing crucial nutrients like calcium and phosphorus to keep tooth enamel strong.

However, when you have a dry mouth, reduced saliva can lead to significant problems, especially when the issue continues long-term. So, what are the best ways to manage dry mouth? Here, we explore the causes and oral health implications of dry mouth, as well as what you can do about it.

Causes of Dry Mouth

Understanding the underlying causes of dry mouth is important for effective management. The primary causes of dry mouth include:

• Medications. Over 1,100 medications can contribute to dry mouth, including antihistamines, decongestants, antidepressants, and certain blood pressure medications.
• Health conditions. Autoimmune diseases like Sjögren’s syndrome can directly impact saliva production. Diabetes, HIV/AIDS, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease are other conditions that can cause or exacerbate dry mouth.
• Substance use. Frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages can lead to dehydration, which in turn can cause dry mouth. Smoking and tobacco use, as well as marijuana use, are also significant contributors to reduced saliva production.
• Caffeine. Drinks that contain caffeine, like coffee, tea, and soda, can dry out the oral cavity, leading to dry mouth and oral health problems like tooth decay.

Health Implications of Dry Mouth

While having a dry mouth from time to time isn’t unusual, when the problem is chronic, it can cause serious oral health complications, including:

Tooth Decay and Gum Disease

Saliva plays a crucial role in neutralizing acids produced by bacteria in the mouth. Without adequate saliva, the risk of cavities significantly increases.

A dry mouth can also increase your risk of gum disease. Saliva contains essential antimicrobial properties that help defend against bacteria. Without enough saliva, patients may experience symptoms of gum disease, including red, bleeding, and swollen gums.

Oral Infections

Reduced saliva can also increase the likelihood of oral infections, such as oral thrush, a fungal infection, as well as mouth sores. Oral thrush requires antibiotic therapy to resolve.

Trouble Speaking and Eating

A lack of saliva can make swallowing, chewing, and talking uncomfortable, impacting your quality of life. Trouble swallowing can also pose significant health risks, including choking, especially for young children or older people.

Bad Breath

Halitosis, or bad breath, is a common symptom of dry mouth due to the lack of moisture that helps wash away food particles and bacteria. People who have dry mouth often continue to experience bad breath even after brushing and flossing.

Best Ways to Manage Dry Mouth

Depending on the cause, managing dry mouth can involve both lifestyle adjustments and specific oral care practices. Here are some of the most effective ways to maintain comfort and oral health when you have chronic dry mouth:

Stay Hydrated

Drinking plenty of water throughout the day is crucial. Carry a water bottle to sip from regularly, particularly during meals. You can also drink herbal teas, but avoid caffeinated or alcoholic drinks, as they can make dry mouth worse.

Chew Sugar-Free Gum

Stimulating saliva production can help reduce dry mouth symptoms. Chewing sugar-free gum, particularly gum containing xylitol, can increase saliva flow and help cleanse your mouth. Sugar-free gum is also an excellent way to help increase saliva and prevent enamel erosion after meals.

Use Saliva Substitutes

Over-the-counter saliva substitutes and oral moisturizers are specifically designed to mimic natural saliva. These products come in various forms, including sprays, gels, and rinses, and can provide temporary relief from dryness. Your dentist can also prescribe prescription saliva substitutes to help manage your dry mouth.

Avoid Certain Foods and Beverages

Spicy, salty, or dry foods can further irritate a dry mouth. Acidic foods and drinks, such as citrus fruits and juices, soda, and alcohol, may also increase dry mouth discomfort. Instead, focus on soft, moist foods. Staying away from tobacco and marijuana products is also imperative to maintaining saliva flow.

Consider a Humidifier

Using a humidifier, especially at night, can help keep the air moist, which can help reduce dry mouth symptoms while you sleep. This method can be particularly helpful for those who experience nighttime dry mouth or experience open mouth breathing while sleeping.

Ask Your Doctor About Medications

You may have the option of adjusting your medication if it’s causing your dry mouth. Your provider may be able to adjust dosages or offer alternative medicines with fewer side effects.

If other measures aren’t effective, there are prescription medications that stimulate saliva production, such as pilocarpine (Salagen) or cevimeline (Evoxac). These medications may offer significant relief for chronic dry mouth patients who can’t resolve the underlying cause.

Practice Good Breathing Techniques

Dry mouth can also be caused by mouth breathing, which can happen due to nasal congestion, such as from allergies, or habitual mouth breathing during exercise. Being mindful of your breathing techniques can help you focus on nasal breathing over mouth breathing to keep your mouth moist.

See Your Dentist

Even if you can’t resolve the underlying cause of your dry mouth, don’t hesitate to follow up with your dentist. Dentists are familiar with the causes and consequences of dry mouth and can help you develop a treatment plan to manage your dry mouth.

Your dentist can also check for signs of enamel erosion, cavities, and gum disease that can happen due to dry mouth. Regular dental visits are crucial to keeping your smile healthy whether or not you have dry mouth.

See Your Dentist in Asheville About Dry Mouth

It is possible to treat and manage dry mouth, so don’t ignore this condition that can lead to significant oral health problems. Whether your dry mouth results from medications, a love for coffee, or a health condition, schedule an appointment with Saunders DDS. We can help you identify the underlying cause and develop a treatment plan to combat the symptoms of dry mouth to protect your smile. Contact us today at (828) 277-6060 or reach us online using our contact form.