Introduction: Dry mouth has been reported as a symptom of COVID-19. In this study, xerostomia (dry mouth) was reported in patients with COVID-19. Materials & methods: Dry mouth was assessed in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 daily until all of the dry mouth symptoms resolved.
Dry mouth isn't a serious medical condition on its own. However, it's sometimes a symptom of another underlying condition that requires treatment. It can also lead to complications, like tooth decay and mouth sores.
Home treatments for dry mouth
Certain things can make dry mouth worse, so it's best to avoid:
Jun 9, 2019
Tips for relieving dry mouth
Sep 11, 2020
Sugar-free juices, reduced-sugar sports drinks, club soda, and herbal tea with lemon are good beverage choices when you just can't stand the idea of drinking any more water. A soft, high-protein diet is recommended for people with dry mouth.
How to help ease a dry mouth yourself
Taste buds on your tongue play a big role in how much saliva you make. Pop something spicy or very sour in your mouth and your taste buds react by telling your body to make more saliva. Acidic foods tend to trigger a lot more saliva than sweet foods.
Aloe vera juices are widely available, and can alleviate dry mouth. Ginger – Ginger is a sialogue, which means it helps stimulate saliva production. Try a ginger chew, or ginger tea to get those saliva glands working again. Hollyhock root – Similar to aloe vera, hollyhock can help moisturize your mouth.
Home remedies: Drinking plenty of water can reduce saliva production. Tooth-brushing and rinsing with mouthwash can also temporarily dry out the mouth.
Use a humidifier in your room at night to help keep moisture in the air. Try to consciously breathe through your nose, not your mouth. Try chewing sugarless gum or sucking on sugarless candy. Consider products such as dry mouth toothpaste, artificial saliva, or saliva-stimulating lozenges.
Dry mouth can be due to certain health conditions, such as diabetes, stroke, yeast infection (thrush) in your mouth or Alzheimer's disease, or due to autoimmune diseases, such as Sjogren's syndrome or HIV/AIDS. Snoring and breathing with your mouth open also can contribute to dry mouth. Tobacco and alcohol use.
It's normal to occasionally have a dry mouth if you're dehydrated or feeling nervous, but a persistently dry mouth can be a sign of an underlying problem. You should see your dentist or GP if you have an unusually dry mouth (known as xerostomia) so they can try to determine the cause.
Avoid commercial mouth rinses or mouthwashes that contain alcohol or peroxide. These ingredients will further dry out your mouth. Avoid salty foods, dry foods (for example, crackers, toast, cookies, dry breads, dry meats/poultry/fish, dried fruit, bananas) and foods and beverages with high sugar content.
Lemon is acidic in nature and excellent to treat bad breath and cleanses your mouth. It also stimulates saliva production, which is necessary when suffering from the problem of dry mouth. Drink a glass of lemon juice every morning.
When the treatment stops, dry mouth usually goes away. Conditions that affect the salivary glands and cause dry mouth, such as Sjögren's syndrome, are usually lifelong. Everyone's mouth can be dry sometimes. If you feel like your mouth is always dry, it may be time to seek treatment.