Dry mouth is a surprisingly common condition. It is simply the absence of saliva in your mouth and there are a variety of causes.

Something as simple as being dehydrated can cause dry mouth because your body doesn’t have the moisture to spare for saliva. Equally, dry mouth can be a sign of diabetes, a side-effect of cancer treatment, your current medications, sleeping with a blocked nose, or even anxiety.

In general, dry mouth is not a serious condition. However, saliva is important to reduce bacteria in your mouth and wash debris away. If you suffer from a dry mouth there will be more bacteria in your mouth. These react with the sugar you consume in food and drinks. The result is acid which attacks the enamel on your teeth, potentially causing cavities.

This is why you should locate a reputable Sydney Park dentist and ensure you have regular check-ups, especially if you suffer from dry mouth.

Fortunately, there are several things you can do to help treat dry mouth at home.

Drink Regularly

This doesn’t mean a glass of wine or beer every hour. You need to sip water regularly and swish it around your mouth before swallowing. This will help to keep your mouth lubricated and remove any debris in your mouth.

That makes it good for dry mouth and oral health.

Chew Sugar-free Gum

Chewing anything encourages your mouth to produce saliva. This is because the saliva softens your food, making it easier to break into pieces and swallow, ready for your body to digest.

Of course, you don’t want to be chewing food all day. Instead, you should chew sugar-free gum. This stimulates the saliva and tastes good. But, because it’s sugar-free there are no calories to worry about and no danger to your teeth.

Just remember to chew with your mouth closed and not when in a meeting!

Maintain Oral hygiene

As mentioned, dry mouth can increase your risk of cavities. To help protect against this you should brush your teeth at least twice a day and use a non-alcohol mouthwash. This will kill bacteria and help your mouth to stay healthy, even if it is dry.

Check Your Medications

It is important to check your medications to see if this is what is causing your dry mouth. If any of them have dry mouth s a side-effect you’ll want to speak to your doctor regarding alternative possibilities.

You should never just stop taking medication.

Breathe Through Your Nose

When you take air in through your mouth it absorbs the moisture in your mouth, drying it out. That’s why you have such a dry mouth when you have a blocked nose. The air has to pass through your mouth. Where possible, you need to start breathing in through your nose, this will help to reduce your dry mouth issue.

Limit Dehydrating Drinks

Coffee, tea, and fizzy drinks are all very effective at stripping the moisture from your mouth and encouraging dehydration in your body. It’s important to avoid these types of drinks where possible.