Take frequent sips of water throughout the day.  However, avoid excessive water intake especially of distilled water, it may promote loss of electrolytes and cause an imbalance.
	Saliva levels are higher when standing or laying than when sitting.
	Salivation rate is higher in winter than in summer and higher in morning than in the afternoon.
	Saliva rates are higher after eating sugar, salt and bitter and acid-tasting foods.*
	High fluoride release fillings.
	High fluoride toothpastes like Prevident 5000.
	Chronic dryness will make your mouth more easily irritated, so experiment to find the level of seasoning you can tolerate.
	Us a water spray bottle to wet your mouth.  Keep it near the places you work, sit and sleep.
	Chew sugarless gum to stimulate salivary flow.  Chew gum that contain xylitol (Clen-Dent, XyliChew), a sweetening agent that reduces cavity-causing bacteria; Trident Advantage with Recaldent, which has a remineralizing agent that adds calcium and phosphate to the teeth.
	Suck, DO NOT CHEW,  on ice or sugar-free Popsicles.
	A warm salt water or baking soda rinse can improve oral comfort when your mouth is sore.
	Suck on sugarless hard candy to stimulate saliva flow; citrus, cinnamon or mint-flavored candies are good choices.
	Chew fibrous foods, like carrots and celery between meals.
	Use an electric toothbrush.
	Drink frequently while you eat.  This makes chewing and swallowing easier and improves taste.
	Use an anti-bacterial mouthwash like BreathRX which does not contain alcohol or sugar.
	Have your dentist coat your teeth with fluoride varnish monthly.
	Use bland, non-spicy sauces and gravies on foods to add more moisture to the foods you eat. Be aware that spicy or salty foods may cause pain in a dry mouth
	Pasta dishes with sauces are easier to swallow.
	Moisten foods with butter.
	Limit caffeine-containing beverages because they increase dryness after drinking them.
	Carry a toothbrush with you to brush often to decrease your risk toward cavities.
	Do not use toothpaste that contain sodium lauryl sulphate which is a foaming agent because it can irritate gum tissue.  Try Rembrandt "Natural" or Biotene "Dry Mouth Toothpaste".  Use gentle toothpastes with mild flavors.

 

	Limit sweet, sticky, sugary foods and high acid food they increase your risk towards cavities.
	Always brush immediately after eating.  If you can not brush, swish and swallow water as soon as possible.
	Dentures make people with dry mouth more susceptible to infection from yeast organisms, which adhere to the plastic.  Soak your denture overnight in one part chlorine beach to ten parts water or chlorhexidine. to prevent infection.  Try treating recurrent oral candidiasis with topical antifungal medications.  Sugar-free Nystatin solution can be used as a rinse.
	Angular cheilitis can be treated with Nystatin or clotrimazole cream.
	Do not use mouth washes with alcohol or phenol in them, alcohol dries out and damages gum tissue.
	Use fluoridated mouth rinse  like Act or Fluorinse and gels.
	Use a professional extra strength fluoride toothpaste like Fluoridex.  After brushing your teeth and right before you go to bed, brush or apply this toothpaste with a cotton Q-Tip to gums and teeth for one minute,  Than swish for one minute to force the gel to cover all your teeth and gum tissue. Make sure you spit out all the fluoride. Do NOT swallow or rinse your mouth after you do this.  Go to bed with the fluoride residue on these surfaces.  Do this again in the morning and do not eat or drink anything for 30 minutes after this routine.
	Apply fluoride gel into a mouthguard  and wear for five to ten minutes before bed and in the morning. Again, do NOT swallow any of the fluoride.
	Bitewings every six months to check for cavities.
	Try Oralbalance moisturizing gel.
	Avoid irritants, such as tobacco and alcohol-including high-alcohol-content mouthwashes (Listerine, Original Mint Scope)-and products containing cinnamon, peppermint, or wintergreen they dry out the mouth.
	Breath through your nose (breathing through your mouth evaporates moisture).
	Use a room vaporizer to cut down on mouth dryness especially at night.
	If your salivary glands are not working right ask your doctor to give you a medicine called pilocarpine that helps your salivary glands to work better.
	If you dry mouth is caused by medicine, ask your doctor to change your medicine or adjust the dosage.
	Drugs, Pilocarpine and Cevimeline are approved for the treatment of dry; mouth associated with Sjogren's Syndrome.  they stimulate salivary secretion and relieve symptoms of dry mouth.  The recommended dosage  for Pilocarpine is 5 milligrams four times per day.  Pilocarpine is contraindicated for patients with glaucoma, iritis and uncontrolled asthma. Cevimeline is longer lasting than Pilocarpine.  The recommended dosage  is 30 mg three times per day.  Both drugs will cause increased sweating.  Cevimeline is contraindicated for patients with uncontrolled asthma, acute iritis or glaucoma.  Saliva substitute drug - Evoxac
	Lemon flavoring is being added to many products since it is an excellent salivary stimulant and doesn't promote decay nor have any other negative side effects. Dr. Light IDF 1/06
	Try  Biotene Dry Mouth Gum with xylitol.

~

	Keep you recare appointments at least four times a year to keep your mouth healthy by having your teeth professionally cleaned, receive fluoride treatments and early detection of cavities.
	Ask about our Dry Mouth Treatment Kits
	Dry mouth during cancer treatment
	Prospec MI Paste-it contains fluoride and recaldent in order to strenghten tooth enamel, reduce sensitivity, and buffer plaque acid.

~We have NO financial interest in this company.

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Dry Mouth News Updates

Acupuncture in the treatment of xerostomia

 Seven xerostomia patients who were treated using acupuncture and the subsequent results of that treatment are discussed. Actual outcomes exceeded the author's expectations with all patients reporting an increase in salivary flow and the ability to eat and speakand improved sleep. Members of the dental team should consider referral for acupuncture as a viable adjunct when treating xerostomia.
http://www.agd.org/library/2005/june/dart_158.pdf

Acupuncture in the treatment of xerostomia: Clinical reportWarren M. Morganstein, DDS, MPH
 

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Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation 

Sjogren's patients may have some serious dry-eye problems and may even be using punctal plugs to help
maintain a bit of tear covering the corneas....products that helps keep the eyes moisturized at  www.eyeeco.com

"The New Sjogren's Syndrome Handbook" by Carsons and Harris

http://www.sjogrens.org/ or www.dry.org

Evoxac for Dry Mouth Treatment.

*Kissing Reduces Chance of Cavities, Dentistry Today pg 39 April 2003

The Management of Sjogren's syndrome in Dental Practice. Dr. Al-Hasimi. JADA Vol 132, October 2001 pg 1409-1415.

http://www.agd.org/consumer/topics/drymouth/ New Dry Mouth Campaign

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February 06, 2008

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