Dry Mouth Treatment

What is Dry Mouth?

The correct medical term for dry mouth is xerostomia and although most of us will occasionally have a dry mouth, xerostomia is where someone is continually unable to produce enough salvia to keep the mouth clean and comfortable. Saliva is very important for a healthy mouth as it washes away excess food particles and helps maintain a neutral pH. Saliva is mostly water but it does contain important antibacterial compounds, as well as electrolytes and enzymes that help begin the process of digestion. If you don’t have enough saliva then you are more at risk of developing gum disease and tooth decay.

What Causes Dry Mouth?

Dry mouth can sometimes be caused by certain medical conditions or by taking some prescription or non-prescription drugs. It may also be due to treatment for cancer. If your xerostomia is caused by prescription drugs then it is worth talking to your doctor to see if they are able to prescribe something different or are able to adjust the dosage.

Treating Dry Mouth

We can prescribe artificial saliva substitutes to keep your mouth moist and comfortable. Make sure you drink plenty of water and are properly hydrated and some people find it helpful to suck sugar-free chewing gum or sweets or to even suck a piece of ice. Make sure your bedroom isn’t too dry and if necessary use a humidifier.

GenNarino Mouth Moistener

We also offer GenNarino, a high tech mouth moistener that uses neuro-stimulation to increase the flow of saliva. It looks a little like a mouthguard and uses a microprocessor, tiny stimulation electrodes and sophisticated software to increase salivary flow. The unit comes with a remote control making operation very easy. Patients only need to wear this device for a few minutes each day to gain the benefits of increased natural saliva secretion.