Dry mouth may be mild or severe. In some cases there may be no saliva production at all.  Without saliva it is difficult to eat, swallow and sometimes even speak without difficulties.  Wearing dental appliances like dentures can also be very hard.

If you suffer from dry mouth there are some over the counter products that can help replace saliva in a liquid synthetic form.  These liquids can be placed in the mouth and are not easily washed away.  This gives the mouth moisture for a longer period of time than just sipping water or chewing on ice chips.  Your doctor or dentist may also give you a prescription for a stronger form if your case is severe enough.

Before you make a trip to the pharmacy, try some simple steps to improve your mouth’s moisture.  Talk to your doctor about any medications that you may be taking that could be causing your symptoms. Especially if your dry mouth has started suddenly or you have recently started taking new medications. There are literally hundreds of medications on the market that can cause dry mouth symptoms and simply lowering your dose or changing to another brand of medication may cure your dry mouth.

Chewing sugarless gum can also help awaken your salivary glands and ask them to make more saliva if they can.  Choose sugarless because many people who have a lack of saliva often have trouble fighting cavities.  Saliva helps wash away bacteria that could remain on the teeth and without it, bacteria attack the teeth and cause cavities much more quickly. Sugar feeds bacteria, so you will want to avoid sugary snacks and candies as much as possible.

Other simple options include breathing through your nose at night, and using a cool mist humidifier to add moisture to the air.  This can help moisten not only your mouth but also the inside of your nose and your throat while you sleep.