How can I treat dry mouth?

Hi Anne,

Having a dry mouth can be a very unpleasant experience, as well as increasing the risk of some dental problems. The major issue is an increased risk of dental decay, as the saliva contains a number of substances which protect your teeth. Bad breath or halitosis is a common complaint for people with a dry mouth, and eating can become a little more difficult and less enjoyable.

Dry mouth can be a result of ageing, for which unfortunately there is no cure! It may also be a side effect of a number of medications. If you are taking any regular medications, ask your medical practitioner if there is a suitable alternative they may not have the dry mouth side effect. It is important not to change your medications without talking to your doctor first though. Dry mouth can also be the result of disease or changes in the salivary glands, or a blocked duct. Again, this is something you should discuss with your doctor to see if any tests are required.

Sometimes finding the cause of dry mouth can be very difficult. In the meantime, you need to protect your teeth and mouth, to reduce the risks that can come with dry mouth. Keep drinking plenty of water, preferably lots of small sips through the day to keep your mouth moist. The high fluoride toothpaste is also a good idea as it can help reduce the risk of getting decay. More importantly though, is excellent oral hygiene. Make sure you brush and floss all your teeth thoroughly, and keep the sugars in your diet to a minimum. Using a fluoride mouthwash can help, and there's a mouthwash called Biotene specifically developed for dry mouth sufferers. Regular visits to your dentist are also important to help pick up any problems early.

Hi,

As DXr James mentioned, there are multiple issues which can lead to dry mouth. Dry mouth increases risk of other dental disease due to saliva being the mouths protector. It can also be uncomfortable.

The first thing is to try and identify the cause. Many medications can cause dry mouth, so if you have been taking any medication it might be good to discuss whether it could be the cause, with your doctor or pharmacist.

It can be due to dehydration, but if you have been having lots of water, this might not be the case. It can be due to other medical condition, particularly any immune disease. Addressing the source of the problem may fix it once and for all.

Unfortunately, sometimes it is not possible to fix the issue as the medication may be needed or the underlying condition can be chronic. In this case relieving the symptoms and protecting the teeth is important. Using a high fluoride toothpaste can help reduce risk of decay as your own dentist advised. Using a emineralising agent, such as GC tooth mousse can help also. Ensuring strict avoidance of dietary sugars and excellent oral hygiene are a must also, as risk for decay is high.

Rather than drinking big portions of water, you should have the normal amount for your height and weight, usually about 2 litres a day or more. Instead of having it all at once, you should have lots of little sips. Carrying a water bottle at all times will help when you are out and about. Using special products like GC Dry mouth gel, biotene mouthwash or saliva substitutes can help relieve discomfort. Different people find different brands work well for them. It is also useful to avoid strong tasting foods like spicy foods. Use a lip balm to keep the lips moist and prevent cracking.

If a cause cannot be found with your dentist or doctor, it may be worth investigating further with an oral medicine specialist.

regards

Dr Frank Farrelly

Darlinghurst Dental

30 Burton St, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010

Phone: 02 9331 1766

http://darlinghurstdental.com.au

You have some great answers to your questions. Can I add please, that dry mouth can also be caused by mouth breathing. One of the most common causes for mouth breathing, is congestion in the nose which can be caused by allergy or irritants that lead to swelling making it harder to keep nose breathing. Anxiety and stress which causes increased heart rate, can also induce mouth breathing. For adults there are products that you can use to help with dry mouth induced by medications or medical conditions. A few of my patients have found these very helpful, but you should always check wth your doctor or health professional, about the underlying cause of your difficulty, before using any new products.I hope this is helpful.

I agree with all of the above great information.

There are multiple factors that would cause dry mouth, so to know the cause it needs multidisciplinary approach.so your Gp and Dentist are first line of contact to start the journey of investigation to the cause. Once the cause is known, treating the specific cause would be more beneficial.

Most of the systemic health issues do affect the oral health.so dryness in mouth could be from issues with Salivary gland or any systemic health issues,or E.N.T. relavance. But all this cause the dental and mucosal issues as doctors mentioned in earlier posts.

so,while health investigation is on,keep yourself hydrated as much as you can,by

multiple sips of water very often,

Start chewing sugar-free chewing gum at least once a day...this exercises your salivary gland stimulation.

Ask your dentist about Tooth mousse or tooth mousse plus to protect your teeth from getting caries due to dry mouth

Artificial salivary supplements could be helpful to relieve the symptoms of dry mucosa like burning mouth..

put the barrier on your lips.

minimise Alcohol and spices intake,

do not use the mouthwash that has Alcohol, products like Biotene paste and mouthwash are recommended or can use similar products of other brands.

So please visit your dentist and GP to get this investigated to get the better treatment targeting the cause.

Please also consider, if that's the case, not smoking cigarettes. Avoiding fluids and beverages with diuretic properties (e.g. caffeine containing drinks) will also help maintain a constant water volume.