Ever notice a sticky, dry, tacky feeling in your mouth? This happens due to a condition called dry mouth, which occurs when a lack of saliva leads to a dry oral environment. Not only does this feel uncomfortable, but this scenario puts your oral health at risk.
Natural oral bacteria can spread easily across your teeth when the mouth is dry. So you can have a higher likelihood of contracting infections like gum disease which can wreak major havoc on your smile. Prevent problems like these by fighting dry mouth.
Sometimes dry mouth, especially when chronic, requires treatment from a dentist to alleviate it. But you can relieve many cases of acute dry mouth on your own. Read on to find tips from your dentist that can help you resolve mild dry mouth symptoms at home.
Drink Plenty of Water
The human body consists primarily of water, so you know that you need to drink water regularly to replenish yourself and stay healthy. This proves true for your oral health as well. Dehydration will cause your mouth to produce less saliva and give you dry mouth.
Avoid low hydration levels in order to fight dry mouth. Drink at least eight eight-ounce glasses of water each day to ensure you stay hydrated. If you consume dehydrating agents like caffeine, drink more water to compensate.
Carrying a portable water bottle throughout your day can help you more easily access the water you need to keep your smile moist and healthy. Relieve acute dry mouth and keep this symptom at bay when you drink plenty of water.
Chew Gum
If you feel like your mouth is dry, you can stimulate saliva production through the act of chewing. However, you might prefer not to disrupt your diet by eating when not hungry. You can still fight dry mouth by chewing gum instead. This encourages salivation without impacting your diet.
Pay attention to which type of gum you chew so that you do not pick a brand with extra sugar. Sugar notoriously poses a risk to your dental health. It becomes acidic when it reacts with saliva, which can then erode your teeth and make them more vulnerable to cavities. Select sugar-free chewing gum to beat dry mouth so that you can preserve your smile without endangering your dental structure.
Check Your Environment
If you start to notice dry mouth developing frequently, it could occur due to an environmental factor. Pay attention to your surroundings the next time you feel a dry mouth and take note of any patterns.
For instance, if spending time in a certain room correlates with your dry mouth symptoms, the air there might be dry. Dry air can also dry out your mouth.
You might not be able to avoid that room, but you can add moisture to the air if you buy a humidifier. This can reduce dry mouth symptoms caused by this type of environment.
If you do not notice a pattern in your surroundings and your oral health, call your dentist. They can determine the cause of dry mouth and treat the issue accordingly.