If you suffer from dry mouth – which is simply a lack of saliva – then you know how bad it can be.
Dry mouth can be painful, making it hard to chew and swallow.
It can be embarrassing … affecting our speech and breath.
It can give us dry throat at night, impacting our sleep (and mood the next day).
If you’re tired of dealing with these dry mouth symptoms, you’ve come to the right place.
Check out these 7 simple home remedies for dry mouth and get the help you need.
1. Hydrate With What Your Body Really Wants
We all know the importance of hydration, but if you’re reaching for the wrong drinks to do the job, you could be paying the price with dry mouth. We’re talking soda, alcohol, coffee and sports drinks – beverages that dry out the mouth and have a high acid content, which is an invitation for dental decay.
The simple (yet not-so-easy-to-follow) solution is to drink more water. Yep, plain good old-fashioned water. It’s especially important for dry mouth sufferers to sip water with every single meal, as well as before and after.
Need some inspiration in the water department? Check out these 22 tips for how to drink more water.
2. Say Hello to Aloe
Aloe isn’t just awesome at soothing sunburns. This miracle plant is also a popular home remedy for dry mouth. There are lots of ways you can put aloe to use: drink ¼ cup of aloe juice each day or just swish with it. You can also apply freshly extracted aloe from your aloe plant onto your gums with a Q-tip, leave on for 15 minutes, and then rinse with lukewarm water.
Or, if that sounds like a lot of work, just add aloe into your dental routine:
Oxyfresh Lemon Mint Mouthwash is our best-seller for a reason: it’s made with aloe for soothing moisture, hydrating essential oils, xylitol, plus double the zinc and Oxygene® for fresh breath.
3. Look at Your Medications
Did you know that 90 percent of the time, medications are to blame for dry mouth? Common culprits include antihistamines, decongestants and antidepressants. Note the medications you take, and make an appointment with your doctor to see if there are similar options without the dry mouth side effects.
Read more about dry mouth causes in this complete guide to getting rid of dry mouth.
4. Use a Humidifier for Dry Mouth at Night
Dry air within your home – especially in the bedroom – can make dry mouth even worse.
Adding moisture into the air via a humidifier will help increase your saliva production and could even help with your snoring and mouth breathing, main causes of dry mouth in the morning.
(Eek!) The sheer number of humidifiers on the market can be overwhelming. So check out this humidifier article to see which top-rated misting model would be best for your specific needs.
5. Shelf Your Booze-Filled Mouthwash
Dry mouth and bad breath go hand-in-hand. That’s because a dry environment causes odorous bacteria to multiply quickly. This, of course, leads many people to the mouthwash aisle at the store. The problem is, most mouthwashes contain alcohol – sometimes as high as 26 percent!
Alcohol is a drying agent. So while swishing to get rid of bad breath, shortly after, the mouth is even drier, which makes bad breath even worse! It’s a vicious cycle that can only be stopped by putting down the alcoholic mouthwash.
What to do: Switch to a hydrating, alcohol-free mouthwash that will neutralize bad breath completely without drying out the mouth.
6. Be a Picky Eater
Becoming a bit picky – er, selective – in your dietary choices can go a long way in helping with your dry mouth problem.
For snacks, choose fruits and veggies that have a high water content, such as strawberries, watermelon, bell peppers, celery or zucchini.
To always have a quick “go-to,” freeze fruits like grapes, pineapple chunks or peach slices, and suck on them for a soothing, hydrating snack.
What should be on the “avoid” list? Dry or salty foods like crackers, jerky, toast and chips, which can be hard to chew anyway if you have dry mouth.
Note: If your dry mouth is severe and you have trouble with most meals, coat your food with broth or sauce and take small bites, chewing thoroughly to stimulate saliva production.
7. “X” Marks the Spot
If you’re into natural health, you’ve probably heard of the ingredient “xylitol.” This sweetener is naturally sourced from fruits and veggies and has 40 percent fewer calories than sugar. But here’s what you may not know: it’s a superstar ingredient in the world of oral health.
Xylitol keeps bacteria (which is what plaque is filled with) from multiplying and sticking to the gum tissue. At the same time, xylitol naturally increases salivary flow, making it a must when fighting against dry mouth.
Oxyfresh’s award-winning Lemon Mint Toothpaste is specially formulated with xylitol and is free of sodium lauryl sulfate, making it a favorite toothpaste for dry mouth sufferers and those undergoing chemo/radiation.
Hydrated Smiles Are Happy Smiles
Don’t let your dental products make your dry mouth worse. Make the switch to Oxyfresh and give your smile the TLC it deserves. Our entire toothpaste and mouthwash line is 100% free of alcohol for no burn, no sting and NO DRYING EFFECT. Now that’s reason to smile!
