Dry mouth? Definitely something to avoid!
Today is World Water Day. A perfect time to talk about…dry mouth. We all have it from time to time. You chew and swallow a few times and think, yuck, I have a dry and uncomfortable feeling in my mouth. Does anyone have a piece of gum? Sip of water maybe? In the morning when you have just woken up, after a vigorous sports session, during an exciting presentation, after kissing or after certain types of food and drink. Or less benign, after the use of medication.
The feeling of dry mouth often strikes you suddenly, because it’s not particularly a nice feeling. It can also cause bad breath. But how does it work, exactly? Why do we sometimes have dry mouth? Is just a big sip of water enough to fix it? Or does it require more attention? You’ll read about it in this article.
The dangers of dry mouth
Dry mouth means that you do not have enough saliva to keep the mouth sufficiently moist. Breathing through your mouth instead of your nose, not drinking enough, eating the wrong foods, taking medication – these can all be causes of reduced saliva production. Talking, chewing, swallowing and tasting becomes more difficult as a result. In addition, dry mouth can also cause dental problems. Teeth and molars are then more susceptible to plaque. This increases the risk of cavities and inflamed gums. Bacteria and mold can also easily settle in a dry mouth, resulting in mouth infections.
Everyone can understand; dry mouth is something you want to avoid as much and as often as possible. Over time, it can have a detrimental effect on your overall health.
In most cases, dry mouth goes away on its own. Your body produces saliva again and your mouth rehydrates itself. However, there is no harm in being aware of it. Dry mouth can cause long-term damage to your teeth and overall health. Here are some of the causes of dry mouth and how you can limit its effects.
Breathe through your nose as much as possible
When you breathe through your mouth, your saliva can dry out. Many people who regularly exercise or snore are more likely to suffer from dry mouth. Those who regularly sleep with their mouths open may even have a worse night’s sleep because of it. When exercising, breathe through your nose as much as possible and drink water during before and after your workout. Do you snore? Then try to remedy this with a special snoring bit. Your dentist or dental hygienist can advise you on this.
Limit stress
When you feel tension, for example from stress or anxiety, a signal can be sent to your brain which causes you to produce less saliva. Also, your breathing is often more frequent which causes your mouth to dry out quicker.
First, acknowledge your sense of tension. Where is it coming from? Are you working too long? Have you recently experienced something unpleasant? If you are (consciously or unconsciously) constantly bringing dry air to your mouth and throat through excessive breathing, that air will dry out your mouth. Consciously focus on breathing through your nose. In this way, you prevent rapid breathing and therefore dry mouth, but you also use it to lower the tension level in your body. Conscious breathing exercises throughout the day help you to reduce stress and anxiety.
Focus on eating healthy
Wanneer je onvoldoende vitamines en mineralen binnenkrijgt door een te eenzijdig dieet en te weinig drinkt op een dag, kan dit onder andere een droge mond veroorzaken. When you don’t get enough vitamins and minerals because of an overly one-sided diet and don’t drink enough in a day, one of the things that can happen is dry mouth. Give preference to fresh and unprocessed foods and drink at least a liter of water daily. Try to eat foods that require you to chew vigorously. Think carrots, nuts, and other high-fiber products. Certain herbs and spices, including cayenne pepper, fennel, ginger, and endive, have been shown to increase saliva.
Add them to your diet as much as possible. Fresher products can also stimulate saliva production. For example, it is good to eat cucumber, pickle, apple, kiwi or pineapple. In this article, we’ll tell you even more about healthy foods that promote, among other things, your oral health.
Brush and floss daily
Last but not least, go for good oral hygiene. Especially if you often suffer from dry mouth. Brush your teeth and tongue twice a day with a soft toothbrush and a good toothpaste. Be sure to brush your tongue as well or use a tongue scraper to remove bacteria. And floss well between your teeth with dental floss and/or toothpicks. This way, you’ll stay on top of plaque and further oral problems.
So just a sip of water is not always sufficient for dry mouth. It is better to drink a liter of water. Preferably in the morning because your body loses a lot of moisture at night. But above all: try to find the cause of your dry mouth and tackle it. Your body will thank you.