A common and often temporary disorder found in patients around the world, oral dryness (known as "xerostomia" in medical journals or simply as "dry mouth") can be caused by a variety of reasons. As a result, there are many treatments available for curing or at least alleviating dry mouth symptoms. Although a physician or dentist can be of assistance in pinpointing the cause of dry mouth, many treatments can be conducted on your own.
Water
According to DryMouth.info, perhaps the easiest and most convenient way to combat dry mouth is to simply to keep hydrated throughout the day by drinking water frequently. Drinking water while eating is important because most saliva in the mouth is used to assist in digestion and breaking down food particles during consumption. Drinking water while eating may also help in enhancing the taste of many foods.
Gum
DryMouth.info also suggests chewing sugar-free gum to keep the level of saliva in the mouth flowing naturally. Chewing gum that does not contain sugar is important, as many sugars can actually limit the amount of saliva produced in the mouth, depending on dosage.
Alternatives for Prescription Drugs
One side effect of many medications is dry mouth. According to Dental-Professional.com, there are more than 400 medications known to promote oral dryness as a side effect. Some common medications include cancer treatments, diuretics, antidepressants, antihistamines, antihypertensives, sedatives and muscle relaxants. As a result, patients with dry mouth may be able to reverse this side effect by speaking to a physician regarding a possible generic or alternative form of a particular prescription drug that does not cause dry mouth.
Prescription Drugs
If the symptoms of dry mouth are excessive and other forms of treatment are not providing the desired results, prescription drugs can be taken to relieve dry mouth. According to DryMouth.info, recent studies have shown that the drugs Pilocarpine and Cevimeline can decrease a patient's sensation of oral dryness and actually promote natural saliva flow. Side effects from these medications can be rather minimal, and patients typically take either medication three to four times daily. Most patients find the best results when using medications along with other treatment methods, such as drinking water frequently throughout the day.
