Dry mouth is a condition that typically occurs when the mouth is unable to produce sufficient saliva. While a lot of people believe their age is a major contributing factor, oftentimes it is due to your diet and prescribed medications.

Since older people usually take medication on a daily basis, they have to deal with dry mouth consistently. While it isn’t anything dangerous, it is still bothersome and when it gets severe, it can even affect your speech.

The solution to a dry mouth can easily be found at your home. Icon Dental Center in Everett and Seattle recommends doing the following if you are consistently facing dry mouth.

Drink More Water

  • One of the first things to do is to drink more water. Keeping yourself well hydrated ensures that your mouth produces enough saliva. If you cannot drink water altogether, take small sips throughout the day.

The recommended daily water intake is around 8 liters a day. Make sure you are at least drinking 5 liters a day to keep dry mouth away.

Improve Your Oral Hygiene

  • Poor oral health is a contributing factor. Since dry mouth also produces bad odor, it is a good idea to improve your oral hygiene. It will not only keep your mouth from drying out but will also protect you from various other oral conditions.

Use Mouthwash

  • Mouthwash is a very good way to keep your oral hygiene in check. But it is very important to consider what ingredients a mouthwash is made from. Most of these have alcohol in them which is the reason why they are good against bacteria. But at the same time, this alcohol can cause dry mouth.

Go for rinses containing xylitol instead of alcohol and it will not only keep bacteria away but will also keep your mouth moist throughout the day. Try and swish your mouth with mouthwash at least two times a day for the best results.

Suck on Sugar-Free Candy

  • Sugar-free candy promotes saliva production by stimulating the salivary glands in your mouth. It is an effective remedy from keeping your mouth from drying out. Although this is a good way to temporarily relieve the symptoms of dry mouth, dentists don’t recommend excessively chewing on sugar-free gum or candy.

Most sugar-free gum and candy are made from ingredients that could lead to cavities, toothaches, and worse, tooth decay that could lead to teeth extraction.

Visit The Dentist

  • Although you can fix a dry mouth with the remedies mentioned above, it is always a good idea to consult a dentist for help. Sometimes there are underlying conditions of the mouth that are well hidden away from the visible eye. These could be a contributing factor.

The American Dental Association recommends visiting the dentist biannually for the best oral health possible. Whenever you feel your mouth is not in perfect condition, or the dry mouth problem does not go away after trying the above remedies, talk to your dentist immediately. 

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