Dentist-Recommended Tips for Dry Mouth Relief

Dry mouth — the feeling as if there’s not enough saliva in your mouth — is a condition that can affect anyone at almost any age, as it can be a side effect from certain medications or conditions. Dry mouth can particularly be a nuisance in older populations, causing pain and affecting the quality of life if there is no early intervention.

Dr. Bruce Lein, DDS, a dentist based in Jupiter, FL, has seen quite a few patients with dry mouth, and has a some tips and tricks to help people living with the condition find relief, fast.

Understand the Cause of Your Dry Mouth

Dr. Lein says that it’s important to get to the root of the cause of your dry mouth, as knowing the cause can help influence the treatment. Certain medications that lead to dry mouth, such as antihistamines or high blood pressure medications, can sometimes be adjusted to help relieve these symptoms. If you suspect your prescription could be the culprit your dry mouth, speak to your healthcare professional to see if it can be tweaked. (Note: You should never adjust on your own without specific instructions from your healthcare provider.)

Make Sure You’re Using the Right Products

To find relief from dry mouth, you need to examine your standard lineup of oral health products like toothpaste and alcohol-based mouthwash. Biotene Dry Mouth Oral Rinse can provide immediate relief for up to four hours from dry mouth symptoms¹, and can be used up to five times a day (unless otherwise instructed by a healthcare professional). According to Dr. Lein, if you breathe through your mouth while you sleep, you may suffer from dry mouth more at night. If so, Biotene Oralbalance Moisturizing Gel can provide soothing, long-lasting relief while you rest. The Biotene product range is specially designed for dry mouth sufferers and provides convenient, around-the-clock options that you can use throughout the day or night.

Know Your Triggers

Aside from medication, Dr. Lein says there are a number of lifestyle factors that can exacerbate dry mouth, such as drinking alcohol, coffee, or other caffeinated beverages, or eating spicy or salty foods. Smoking doesn’t help, either.

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research suggests sipping water often throughout the day, completely avoiding known triggers, and chewing sugarless gum to help stimulate saliva flow in the mouth.

¹ As measured in a 28 day clinical study