Few things are as uncomfortable as dry mouth, and when it hits, it’s hard to think of much else but ridding yourself of it as immediately as possible. Be it from medication use, marijuana consumption or dry blistery weather, most of us have experienced this intolerable symptom too many times.
What is dry mouth?
Dry mouth, or xerostomia, is precisely as the name suggests: having an extremely and uncomfortably dry mouth. It occurs when the salivary glands in your mouth don’t produce enough saliva to keep your mouth wet and serves as the perfect example of not realizing what you have until it’s gone.
A decreased amount of salvia can range anywhere from being a slight nuisance to something that can have a significant impact on your general wellbeing; it can affect your teeth, gums, appetite and your ability to enjoy food.
Depending on who you know, you might also hear it referred to as ‘cottonmouth’ or ‘pasties,’ as these are standard terms used in and among those who consume marijuana. Cottonmouth from cannabis use was once thought to be caused by irritation to oral membranes but is now understood as a natural response of our salivary glands to marijuana components in the bloodstream.
So now that you know what it is and why it might occur – how do you actually get rid of it? Treatment of dry mouth may vary depending on the cause, but generally speaking, there are a few beneficial remedies that you can start using today.
Here are five ways you can control dry mouth
Sugarless candy or gum
Although candy is often cited as the cause of our discomfort and not the solution, it can provide temporary relief to dry mouth. In a similar vein, some gum contains xylitol, which may help stimulate saliva production.
Livli Dry Mouth
Our Livli Dry Mouth lozenges are made with natural, sugar-free sweeteners and a proprietary herbal blend made to stimulate additional saliva production. Convenient and travel-sized, they are the perfect solution for when cottonmouth hits on the go.
Breath through your nose
You might find it a tad difficult in the beginning to control your breathing patterns, but with enough practice, you’ll get the hang of it. In addition to dry mouth, breathing through your mouth can cause other oral health problems; to avoid any issues, it’s recommended to breathe through your nose as much as possible.
Get a humidifier
We know that that dry weather makes our skin dry, scratchy and uncomfortable, but it has a similar effect on our mouths as well. Attack the issue at its source with the addition of a humidifier; running a humidifier was shown to moderately improve dry mouth symptoms, and reduce discomfort.
Avoid caffeine
We know what you’re thinking: “Take everything, but don’t take my coffee!” Most of us don’t truly wake up before we have our morning cup of joe, we know. It can be a hard thing to cut back on. But if you’re suffering from dry mouth, it’s worth curbing the habit for a little while; studies suggest caffeinated coffee or tea can be a major contributor to the problem.
As annoying as it is, having dry mouth is rarely a serious health issue. That notwithstanding, it’s undoubtedly a distracting one. If you’re looking for a little relief, we hope that the above suggestions are of use to you.
To learn more about our Livli Dry Mouth lozenges, and how it can help fight against dry mouth, please visit our product page.