Nov 4, 2007

Top 7 Tips To Treat And Prevent Dry Mouth

Often, dry mouth is triggered by autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus. Other chronic ailments that are common among seniors, like diabetes and Parkinson's disease, also can dry out your mouth. In addition, anemia, anxiety, stress, and depression can slow saliva protection to a trickle. Radiation therapy and other cancer treatments can also trigger dry mouth. It is quite difficult to cure dry mouth, if it is caused by a disease. That does not mean that you can't do something to relieve it. Here are some suggestions that can help you.

1. Try Sugarless Delight

Chew on a piece of sugarless gum, or suck on a piece of sugarless hard candy for 5 to 10 minutes every two hours. This can help stimulate your salivary glands so you will have a more sustained flow of fluid in your mouth.

2. Brush For Hygiene

If you have dry mouth, your teeth and gums are more susceptible to infection, which not only can lead to tooth loss but also can make your mouth feel even drier. So it is particularly important to brush after every meal and floss at least once a day.

3. Avoid Alcohol


Alcohol is another favorite beverage that dries the mouth. So, cork your alcohol consumption but also be wary of hidden alcohol in medicines and mouthwashes, which can be as high as 26 percent alcohol. As an alternative, look for alcohol-free mouth rinse.

4. Moisten The Air


Put a cool-air vaporizer in your bedroom. This can add much needed humidity to the air and prevent you from waking up with dry mouth. You will find vaporizers in most of the pharmacies or variety stores.

5. Bring Water Bottle

Keep a water bottle handy and take frequent sips. Sipping will help keep your mouth better lubricated than gulping down a glass of water all at once. Take small swigs. Ultimately, you want to be quaffing about a cup of water every hour.

6. Skip Sodas

Dry mouth and carbonated beverages don't mix. Without sufficient saliva to break it down, the acid in sodas and other carbonated drinks will further dry out your mouth and can severely damage your teeth and gums.

7. Limit Your Caffeine Intake

Overindulging in caffeine will make a dry mouth worse. Limit yourself to no more than one cup of coffee or tea a day.

About the Author
Raymond Lee is one of the foremost experts in the health and fitness industry and is the Founder of Bodyfixes Group specializing in body health, muscle development and dieting. He is currently the author of the latest edition of "Neck Exercises and Workouts." Visit http://www.bodyfixes.com for more information.

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