How to Fix Cotton Mouth

Cotton mouth, medically referred to as xerostomia, is a decreased amount of saliva, causing dryness in your mouth and throat which can lead to infections, tooth and gum decay, and mouth sores. A number of causes, such as prescription drug side effects, diseases including diabetes, and lifestyle choices such as chewing tobacco and smoking can lead to dry mouth symptoms. You can treat cotton mouth by drinking water, sucking on lozenges or breath mints throughout the day, and by implementing a new oral hygiene routine.

Things You'll Need

• Medication side effects
• Filtered water
• Sugar-free candy, breath mints or lozenges
• Vaporizer
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Fluoride mouth wash
• Floss

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Instructions

• 1

  Find the source of your cotton mouth. Write a list of prescription medications, behaviors such as smoking or chewing tobacco, foods you are eating and exercise routines that may affect your hydration. Research the side effects of medications you are taking. Ask a pharmacist or the physician who prescribed the medication about any known dry mouth effects. Write down the times of day when your cotton mouth is the worst so you can figure out the cause.

• 2

  Stay hydrated by drinking at least six to eight glasses of filtered water throughout the day. Drink water before and after exercise, and while eating.

• 3

  Suck on sugar-free candy, throat lozenges or breath mints to create saliva inside your mouth. Consider using breath mints because cotton mouth can cause bad breath.

• 4

  Begin an oral hygiene routine. Brush your teeth twice a day. Wash your mouth and gargle with fluoride mouthwash twice a day. Floss your teeth at least once a day.

• 5

  Set up a vaporizer in your bedroom at night to moisturize the air while you are sleeping. Breathing in vaporized air keeps your mouth and throat moist so you can avoid cotton mouth and associated symptoms such as dry hacking.