If you notice an uncomfortable, tacky feeling in your mouth, you might have developed dry mouth. This unpleasant sensation can put your teeth and gums at risk of dental dangers, so you should not ignore it.
Dry mouth can occur for a number of reasons, and if it is chronic, it could be a symptom of a larger dental problem that will require intervention from a dentist. But you can fight milder cases of dry mouth from your home. Read on to learn three ways that you can resolve symptoms of dry mouth on your own.
How to Get Rid of Dry Mouth Symptoms
Stay Hydrated by Drinking Plenty of Water
Dry mouth often occurs when you are dehydrated. You know you need to drink plenty of water to maintain adequate hydration levels and stay healthy, but this extends to your oral health too.
When dehydrated, you produce less saliva which dries out your mouth. Then the natural bacteria in your mouth can more easily spread across your teeth, heightening your risk for oral infections such as gum disease.
When left untreated, gum disease will eat away at your gums, teeth, and jawbone, leaving you with major dental damage that could result in tooth loss. Avoid this by staying hydrated. Drink at least eight eight-ounce glasses of water a day, and drink more if you consume dehydrating agents like caffeine.
Stimulate Saliva Production by Chewing
When you have dry mouth due to a lack of saliva in the mouth, you can stimulate the production of saliva by chewing. But you might not want to disrupt your diet by eating when not hungry. So you can chew sugar-free gum to accomplish this.
Choosing gum without added sugar ensures that you do not hurt your teeth as you chew the gum. Sugar becomes acidic when it reacts with saliva. It can then eat away at your dental structure, increasing your risk for cavities.
A dentist can treat a cavity relatively easily with a dental filling, but ideally, you should preserve your natural smile as much as you can. Protect your teeth as you fight dry mouth by chewing sugar-free gum.
Consider Environmental Factors
Sometimes your surroundings can lead you to experience dry mouth. Next time you notice this issue, pay attention to your environment and look for a correlation between the area around you and your symptoms. If you find a pattern, you should alter the environmental factor to relieve dry mouth.
For instance, dry air in a room can cause dry out your mouth. If you cannot avoid this space, try using a humidifier in this room. This device will add moisture to the air so that you will reduce your risk of dry mouth.
If you cannot find an external cause for your dry mouth, you might have another dental issue that will require an evaluation from your dentist. Do not hesitate to call your dentist to examine and treat this dental problem for you.