One of the roles saliva plays in your mouth is to wash away plaque and food particles. Reduced saliva production greatly increases your chances of developing problems with tooth decay and gum disease. Dry mouth can have several causes, addressing the underlying source will go a long way towards helping to find an effective remedy.

Many medications cause dry mouth as one of their side effects. If you suspect this is the source of your dry mouth issues you should talk to your doctor about your options. While it is important to continue taking the medication in question, there are a few everyday habits that can help the problem.

Several over the counter decongestants and antihistamines, can cause dry mouth as a side effect. Talk to your physician about alternative medications.

Caffeine and alcohol are diuretic substances that easily dehydrate you. Cutting back on them will increase your body’s natural hydration levels. This also holds true for Regular tobacco use.

There are certain medical conditions involving the liver and kidneys as well as oral and pharyngeal cancer that can lead directly to dry mouth.

Try to get in the habit of taking small, frequent sips of water throughout the day. You can also augment this by chewing sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva glands. There are also prescription artificial saliva supplements that can help add fluid to the mouth.

If you are struggling to find the source of your chronic dry mouth issues or you are struggling to manage dry mouth through lifestyle modification, please feel free to call us at 414-525-0300 to schedule an appointment.