20 Effective Home Remedies To Treat Dry Mouth

Dry mouth can be a real nightmare. In this article, Beauty and Tips offers up 20 super effective natural remedies for dry mouth that can be very useful.

First of all, what is dry mouth? Dry mouth is essentially what you think it is – a mouth that's super, SUPER dry. Normally, we don't pay much attention to how dry or moist our mouth is. However, if you've suddenly noticed that your mouth seems to be dryer than usual despite you just having had a drink, it's possible that you're suffering from dry mouth syndrome. Also known as xerostomia, dry mouth happens when your mouth doesn't produce as much saliva as usual. As a result, you have a thirst that just can't be quenched, your mouth feels a tad tingly, you're finding it hard to swallow, and you may have bad breath. These are all symptoms associated with dry mouth, a condition that isn't massively common, but which can happen to anyone. What causes it? It can be anything from medical treatments, to irritation in the mouth, to a yeast infection, to smoking, to gum disease. Dry mouth is certainly uncomfortable, and once you realise that your mouth is unusually dry, it's way too easy to focus on it. However, there are ways to relieve it that don't involve over-the-counter pills. Let's take a look at 20 super effective natural remedies for dry mouth.

Stay hydrated
This might seem like an obvious one (and it is), but the key here is how you stay hydrated. Not enough of us drink enough water, with many preferring to get their water fix from their food. Instead, we drink coffee, fruit juice, energy drinks or soda. However, none of these are ideal for when you've got dry mouth and need to stay hydrated. Instead, you must turn to the elixir of life itself – water. Water is simply the best when it comes to keeping us hydrated. It's 100% natural, 100% good for you and, unlike everything else, 100% water! Drink at least 5 glasses per day, but go up to 8 if you can. Always have a glass of water next to you, and take a sip every five minutes. This will help to keep your mouth moist, and it will also boost your saliva production. Eventually, water can even prevent dry mouth altogether.

Chew gum
Remember when all the cool kids (basically you) used to chew gum at school? Some did it just to annoy the teachers they knew hated gum, while others did it because it gave their breath a better smell (lol!). Now that you've got dry mouth, it's time to go back to that habit you once had of chewing gum all day. If possible, choose sugar-free gum. But why gum at all? Chewing gum works your salivary glands. It wakes them up and gives them something to do. Once you've woken them up and got them working, they'll pump out more saliva. Pick a flavour and a brand you know you'll love, because you're going to need to love the taste if you're chewing it all day. We recommend cinnamon, citrus or mint flavours. Make sure to slip a packet into your handbag so that you don't leave the house without some gum, too.

Avoid c affeine
Many of you will probably skim this article in order to find the tips that most appeal to you. And if you've reached this tip, you'll probably be inclined to skip it. True, you don't need to put into practice every single tip on this list (though it would help), and we can imagine the coffee drinkers avoiding this one. But here's the thing: you don't need to give up coffee. Rather, you need to cut down on caffeine. Caffeine is fantastic for waking us up in the morning and making us feel more alert. But caffeine also has negative affects on our body, and when you're struggling with dry mouth, it can make your mouth even dryer. And no one wants that, right? If your usual hot drink of choice (be it coffee or tea) is heavily caffeinated, now is a good time to find a decaffeinated alternative. The taste will be a tad different at first, and it could take some time getting used to it. But you'll get there, and hopefully it will help to relieve your symptoms.

Use lemon juice
Another one of natural remedies for dry mouth is lemon juice. Lemons are such a feel-good fruit. They remind us of summer, they add a playful kick to dishes, and they look like the sun itself. They're awesome, but why don't more of us consume them? If you've got dry mouth, now is the time to start adding this citrus fruit to your grocery list. Why? Because its acidic contents will clean your mouth, thus relieving bad breath. Not just that, but when you add it to a cup of tea or a warm glass of water along with honey, it acts as an effective home remedy for dry mouth. The best thing? Lemon tastes good, smells good and will make you feel good. Get on it!

Use ginger
Ginger is another one of fabulous natural remedies for dry mouth, it can help with almost anything. It soothes an upset stomach, stimulates hair growth, lowers your cholesterol levels, and can even prevent certain cancers. Why didn't someone just name it Super Ginger from the start?! As well as all this, ginger also eliminates dry mouth by stimulating more saliva production. It also freshens your breath and will take care of a few other chores if you need it to (such as an upset stomach). All you need to do is slice off a tiny piece of fresh ginger and chew on it a few times per day. Alternatively, you could drink a few cups of ginger tea instead.

Invest in a new toothbrush
When was the last time you changed your toothbrush? It's recommended that we change our brush every few months (six at the most). If we won't, our brush isn't as effective anymore and can leave more bacteria in our mouth than it's taking out. Investing in a brand new toothbrush does't cost much at all, and it's worth doing if you have dry mouth. Go for a soft-bristled brush, as these are better at reaching the far flung crevices in your molars.

Use fennel seeds
Another one of amazing natural remedies for dry mouth are fennel seeds, they are packed with flavonoids that boost the production of saliva in your mouth. They also come with a sweet flavour that can help to eradicate bad breath. All you've gotta do is simply snack on fennel seeds throughout the day!

Breathe through the nose
It's all about how you breathe! If you breathe though the nose, as opposed to through the mouth, you can alleviate the symptoms associated with dry moth.

Suck on hard pasta
Sure, we realise how absurd this sounds. But it's been found that sucking on hard pasta can cure dry mouth. Who'd have thought it?!

Slippery elm
Slippery elm certainly sounds like one of the odd natural remedies for dry mouth, but it's exactly what you might need. When you mix slippery elm with water, it turns into a gel that's effective at curing and preventing a number of mouth issues, including bad breath, tooth decay, and dry mouth. All you need to do is take a teaspoon of slippery elm and add it to a cup of hot/warm water. Then, boil for up to ten minutes before straining. Once it's cooled, add a pinch of honey before drinking. Do this twice a day and not only will you eliminate dry mouth, you'll also eliminate any other mouth conditions you may have while boosting your overall oral health. Hey, we all need to clean our mouths like this every now and then. What better time for you to do it than now?

Use mouthwash
Use a mouthwash, but try to find one that's as low in alcohol as possible (preferably free from alcohol). Alcohol itself causes dehydration and thus dryness, and as such it can irritate your condition. So always check the label before buying. Also, there are mouth washes that have bee designed specifically for dry mouth. Either do some research online, or pop into your local pharmacy and ask one of the shop assistants for help. Then, once you've got your mouthwash, use it morning and night to help protect your mouth and eliminate dryness.

Suck on candy
Suck on candy – but make sure that it's sugar free!

Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is one of nature's best miracles that comes in as one of fabulous natural remedies for dry mouth, as well as a handy remedy for treating other numerous ailments. The easiest way to use aloe vera in the fight against dry mouth is to take a glass of aloe vera juice and rinse your mouth out. Or, you could drink a quarter cup (or more) of aloe vera juice, as this will encourage your saliva grands to produce more of that much-needed saliva. Alternatively, you could take a dab of aloe vera gel, add it to a cotton swab and apply it around your mouth, inside and out. Leave for around three minutes before rinsing your mouth out. If you do this three times a day, you could clear up dry mouth in no time at all.

Consume less acidic foods
There are alkalising foods and there are acidic foods. Alkalising foods, such as fruit and veg, are good for us, while acidic foods, such as processed food and sugar, is bad. Now, more than ever, it's time to eat less acidic foods, as these can exacerbate dryness in your mouth. More than anything, avoid fats that are high in fats or that are deep fried. Remember, you need to keep your mouth nice and clean at this stage, and eating the wrong food will only create more problems.

Floss daily
Do you floss as well as clean your teeth? Flossing daily is highly beneficial, as it gets rid of the hard-to-reach bacteria between teeth that brushing your teeth can't get to. Dry mouth is pretty darn horrible, but daily flossing can help to eliminate it.

Grapeseed oil
One of the healthiest oils there is, grapeseed oil isn't just for cooking, it is one of great natural remedies for dry mouth. Like most oils, it can be used in other ways that benefit our health. For dry mouth, take a pinch of grapeseed oil and rub it on your tongue with your fingers. Dab some on the inside of your cheeks too, before leaving overnight. In the morning, rinse with warm water before brushing your teeth.

Cut down on alcohol
Earlier, we mentioned how you should choose an alcohol-free mouthwash. This is because alcohol causes dehydration, and therefore makes a dry situation even dryer. It certainly won't help your cause! We've already suggested cutting out coffee, and now it's time to cut out alcohol, too. A glass of wine now and then is okay, but avoid alcohol altogether for the time being if possible. Not only does alcohol exacerbate your condition, but it's pretty bad for your health regardless.

Drink fruit juice
You can't drink coffee or alcohol now that you've got dry mouth. So what canyou drink?! Well, there is water of course. But if water is too bland for you, how about drinking more fruit juice? There is the option of store-bought juice, but this tends to be rich in sugar. Alternatively, you might want to consider getting creative and making your own fruit juices. Fruit juice is bursting with vitamins and minerals that restore your health while also rehydrating you to the max.

Use cayenne pepper
Cayenne pepper seems to be a popular home remedy for a lot of things, and with good reason. It's super versatile and can help to eliminate dry mouth in no time at all. All you need to do is take a sprinkling of cayenne pepper, dab it on your tongue (try to ignore the burning sensation) and hold for a few moments. If you do this, cayenne pepper will stimulate your salivary glands. Awesome!

Use fluoride toothpaste
Don't just use any toothpaste – use fluoride toothpaste. Why? Because fluoride toothpaste is ideal for strengthening your teeth, as well as ensuring that the bacteria in your mouth doesn't get the chance to produce nasty, harmful bacteria.

Do you have other tips on natural remedies for dry mouth?

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