How to Avoid Dry Mouth

A dry mouth is caused when the glands inside the mouth that make saliva do not produce enough to keep the mouth moist. This sometimes occurs as a side effect to some medications. For example, many medications for high blood pressure or depression cause a mouth to be dry. There are also diseases that make the mouth dry. Diabetes and Parkinson's disease are among those diseases that cause a dry mouth. Likewise, chemotherapy makes the saliva thick, which makes the mouth feel dry.

Things You'll Need

• Water Sugarless gum or candy Humidifier

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Instructions

• 1

  Drink water often. Carry a water bottle with you throughout the day. Take small sips several times an hour to keep the mouth moist. If you must drink something other than water, make sure the drink does not have sugar in it.

• 2

  Do not drink caffeine. Any drinks that have caffeine----such as tea, coffee and cola----naturally make the mouth feel more dry. A person who is having a problem with a dry mouth in the first place would have an even a bigger problem if he drinks caffeine.

• 3

  Chew on sugarless gum. The active chewing generates the flow of saliva in the mouth. Likewise, sugarless hard candy tends to do the same. Gum or candy that is citrus-flavored, cinnamon-flavored or mint-flavored can help a person avoid a dry mouth.

• 4

  Use a humidifier in the home or in the office. A humidifier is a particularly beneficial thing to use in areas that are generally dry. A humidifier makes the air more moist, which helps the mouth stay moist as well.

• 5

  Ask a doctor about a change in medication if the medicine you're taking causes a dry mouth. The doctor may be able to either change the medication or adjust the dosage you're taking.