Also known as Xerostomia, dry mouth is a medical condition where the production of saliva is reduced and thus resulting in the mouth becoming dry and sticky. In most cases, dry mouth is followed by dry tongue, dry throat, the problem with swallowing, tingling sensation in the mouth, bad breath and a thirst that’s unquenchable. Dry mouth is normally caused by various factors like reduced moisture in the mouth, yeast infection, gingivitis or mouth irritation, ongoing medical treatment, irritation or swelling at the corners of the mouth, radiation therapy, menopause and cigarette smoking.
A dentist in Surrey knows that suffering from dry mouth can be extremely irritating, especially because of the sticky feeling inside the mouth. People who experience this condition refer to this feeling as having “cotton mouth”. This condition can be treated easily with a few changes in your lifestyle and home remedies. Just make sure to follow the home remedies every day until the symptoms go away.
Below are the known top home remedies for treating dry mouth.
Fluid Intake
Dehydration is among the most common causes of dry mouth. So, the best thing to do to avoid it is increasing your fluid intake to keep you hydrated. If you are properly hydrated, it will be easy for your mouth to increase production of saliva and help get rid of dry mouth symptoms.
Cayenne Pepper
It has been proven that Cayenne Pepper helps to stimulate the production of saliva, making it a perfect home remedy for treating dry mouth. Aside from increasing saliva production, it can also help improve the taste buds so you better differentiate bitter, sweet, sour and salty flavours.
Fennel Seeds
Fennel seeds contain flavonoids which helps to stimulate the flow and production of saliva and as a result help get rid of dry mouth. And, the aromatic flavour it brings helps to fight bad breath that goes with dry mouth.
Slippery Elm
Slippery elm has mucilage. Because of this substance, it will produce a slick gel once it’s mixed with water. This gel will help coat and soothe the mouth and throat. And it can help in effectively relieve discomforts that accompany with dry mouth.
Oil Pulling
Oils pulling, an ancient Ayurvedic practice, aids in keeping your mouth moist thus helping in the treatment of dry mouth. It’s also helpful in maintaining oral health and in getting rid of bad breath. Oil pulling is done by using coconut oil, sesame oil, or other edible vegetable oil.
Aloe Vera
Another age-old remedy for dry mouth is the use of Aloe Vera. It helps by protecting the sensitive tissues in the mouth and improves that taste buds.
Thanks to Clover Hills Dental for their information on dry mouth.