What Are the Treatments for Dry Mouth After Radiation?

Dry mouth or xerostemia, can result from radiation treatments. This condition indicates inadequate saliva production and can be permanent in some cases. You can do several things to treat dry mouth.

Encouraging Saliva Flow

• Suck on sugarless candies or chew sugarless gum. Sugar-free is important since this condition increases your risk of dental problems like cavities and tooth decay.

Prescription Treatments

• Prescription medications like pilocarpine and cervimeline can stimulate your salivary glands to produce saliva. Usually, you will need to take several doses per day to maintain benefit consistently.

Artificial Saliva

• Saliva substitutes, readily available over-the-counter, can ease dry mouth by imitating real saliva. These treatments do not stimulate production in any way. Look for products that contain carboxymethlcellulose or hydroxyethyl cellulose.

Alternative Treatments

• The Mayo Clinic suggests acupuncture can be useful based on clinical studies.

Avoid Worsening Symptoms

• Certain things can worsen dry mouth; limit or avoid caffeine, breathe through your nose, not your mouth, and avoid mouthwashes that contain alcohol. Drink water throughout the day.