03 Nov 7 Natural Remedies for Dry Mouth
A dry, sticky mouth is no fun. But dry mouth isn’t just uncomfortable, it also puts your teeth at risk. Without enough saliva to rid your mouth of harmful bacteria, excess plaque can quickly build up on your teeth.
Luckily, there are many at-home remedies you can use to find some relief. Plus, managing your symptoms will also reduce your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. If you have dry mouth, try one or more of the following natural methods to stimulate saliva flow and protect your teeth.
Seven Natural Remedies for Dry Mouth You Can Try at Home
1: Drink Water
It’s important to stay hydrated when you have dry mouth. Drinking water throughout the day, especially with meals, will help remove bacteria and food particles from your mouth and improve hydration. Keeping a bottle of water handy is the best way to prevent dry mouth.
2: Avoid Caffeine and Alcohol
Caffeine and alcohol both have a dehydrating effect. Plus, caffeinated and alcoholic beverages often contain a lot of sugar, which is also dehydrating. And when these beverages are acidic as well, they wear away at your protective tooth enamel. To protect your teeth, it’s best to avoid or at least reduce your intake of coffee, tea, and soft drinks.
3: Use Alcohol-Free Mouthwash
The alcohol in mouthwash can also cause dry mouth or make it worse. However, the right mouthwash will actually promote saliva production while also giving you fresh breath. Look for products that are specifically formulated for dry mouth, or try making your own natural mouthwash at home.
4: Choose Sugar-Free Candy, Lozenges, or Gum
Chewing gum or sucking on candies and cough drops does help stimulate your saliva production. However, it’s essential to choose sugar-free options. Dry mouth often leads to gum disease, and exposing your teeth to sugar for long periods of time sugar only increases your risk.
5: Get a Humidifier
Moistening the air you breathe can also help relieve dry mouth symptoms, especially at night. Try using an air humidifier throughout the day or while you sleep.
6: Quit Smoking
Smoking tobacco reduces saliva flow, leading to dry mouth. Smoking also causes a variety of other dental issues, such as yellow teeth, bad breath, gum disease, and oral cancer. Quitting smoking as soon as possible will relieve dry mouth and improve your overall oral health.
7: Practice Good Oral Hygiene
Combining good oral hygiene with routine professional teeth cleanings is also your best chance at preventing tooth decay and gum disease. Make sure to brush your teeth for two minutes each day and floss once daily to keep your mouth healthy between dentist visits.
Holistic Dentist in Prescott, Arizona
If you suffer from dry mouth, you may need more frequent professional cleanings to protect your teeth from bacteria and plaque. The team at Prescott Dentistry can determine the cause of your dry mouth symptoms as well as the best remedies to help you find relief. Whether you’re due for a cleaning or would like to discuss how to treat dry mouth, our compassionate team is here to help. Call 928-445-1660 today to schedule an appointment.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (11/3/2022). Photo by Bluewater Sweden on Unsplash