What Is Cotton Mouth?
The majority of us have probably experienced the feeling of “cotton mouth,” or xerostomia, at one point or another, however, for some individuals a severely dry mouth is part of their everyday life. As its nickname suggests, the term “cotton mouth” describes the feeling of having a mouth that is so dry that it almost feels as though you have a mouth full of cotton wool.
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What Does Cotton Mouth Do?
As you have probably figured out, a dry mouth occurs when the mouth becomes dry. We need saliva to keep our mouths moist and, when saliva production slows down, everyday tasks can become uncomfortable, and we run the risk of developing oral health issues.
A dry mouth can make simple tasks such as chewing and swallowing food uncomfortable and even painful due to the lack of saliva present that would normally aid these processes. Even if your mouth is not dry to quite this extent, thecotton mouth can still impact your life in various ways such as impairing the taste of food, making you feel constantly thirsty and even making it near impossible to wear dentures.
Saliva also plays a part in keeping our mouths clean as it controls bacteria and fungi in the mouth which, in turn, helps to prevent and fight infections. A lack of saliva in the mouth can, therefore, increase your chance of developing problems with your oral health such as gingivitis, tooth decay, and even oral thrush.
What Are the Symptoms Of Cotton Mouth?
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Although the most common complaint of cotton mouth is a severely dry mouth, there are other symptoms to look out for. These can include:
- A sticky feeling in the mouth
- Frequent thirst
- Sores in the mouth or on the surrounding area
- A dry throat
- A burning or tingling sensation
- A red or raw tongue
- Problems speaking
- Problems tasting, chewing, and swallowing
- Dry nasal passages
- Bad breath
Do I Need To See My Doctor?
There are many things that can cause cotton mouth, and these can range from prescription medications to lifestyle factors such as simply being dehydrated, in addition to everything in between. Unfortunately, dry mouth is a common side effect of many prescription drugs and, if you suspect that this is the cause of your cotton mouth, sharing your concerns with your doctor will be the safest and most effective route for you to take.
A severely dry mouth can also be a side effect of an underlying medical condition that remains undiscovered and untreated. If you suspect that some infection or disease could be causing your cotton mouth then paying a visit to your doctor for a fullcheck-upto be on the safe side is the best course of action.
If you have paid a visit to your doctor and seem to be in good health but still find that you are struggling with cotton mouth, then do not despair. The chances are that your cotton mouth is being caused by one of your small daily habits that you have probably overlooked. If this is the case, then do not worry as there are a range of subtle changes you can make to your daily routine that will provide you with some relief from your cotton mouth quickly and easily.
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Drink More Water
It may seem like a fairly obvious suggestion,but the best cure for a dry mouth is to drink more liquid, however, you will need to ensure that you are taking regular sips throughout the day rather than big gulps when your mouth first begins to feel dry.
Ensure that you are taking a sufficient amount of water on board because even if you start drinking can after can of soda in a bid to increase your fluid intake, it is still likely that you will suffer from a dry mouth. You may do this with good intentions, but most soda and fizzy drinks are not very hydrating despite initially seeming to quench your thirst.
Sipping water at regular intervals throughout the day is the best way to ensure that you stay hydrated. Once you begin doing this, you will quickly notice a multitude of health benefits, including effective relief from your cotton mouth.
Limit Your Alcohol Intake
As I’m sure you are aware, alcohol dehydrates the body, and one of the main effects of dehydration is a dry mouth. Alcohol decreases the body’s production of an anti-diuretic hormone which the body uses to reabsorb water, and this causes increased urination, meaning that the more alcohol you drink, the more fluid you will lose.
If this fluid is not replaced then the body becomes dehydrated and, usually, the individual will develop cotton mouth. Even if you do not drink in excess, if you are not sufficiently hydrated before consuming alcohol then it is possible todevelop cotton mouth after just a couple of beverages.
You do not have to cut alcohol out completely,however, if you regularly consume a couple of units each week your cotton mouth will be eased if you cut down. If you are unprepared to limit your alcohol intake then, at least, ensure that you are drinking a sufficient amount of water to stay hydrated.
Limit Your Caffeine
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Like alcohol, a high caffeine consumption can cause dehydration in the body and lead to the individual suffering from a severely dry mouth. As caffeine is a diuretic, it causes increased urination which means that your body loses more fluid than it normally would. If this fluid is not being replaced then, the cotton mouth can occur.
If you cannot bear the thought of getting through the day without caffeine then do not worry, you don’t have to give it up completely. Simply reduce your intake if you are drinking it excessively by swapping every other caffeinated hot drink for a decaffeinated or herbal variety. If caffeinated sodas are your vice then simply alternate these with glasses of water or cordial to increase your water intake while still receiving your caffeine fix.
Change Your Mouthwash
By doing something as simple as changing the type of mouthwash that you use you can reduce your chance of suffering from the cotton mouth. The majority of mouthwashes are made from alcohol-based solutions and, as already discussed, alcohol is widely known to cause dehydration in the body and is frequently associated with dryness of the mouth due its diuretic properties. Dentists around the world recommend this one as the best.
This means that by simply avoiding regular, alcohol-based mouthwash solutions you can significantly reduce your chances of suffering from thecotton mouth. If you switch to an alcohol-free mouthwash that has been specifically designed for individuals with dry mouths, you will still gain all the benefits associated with good oral health without it having a negative effect on your saliva production.
Selecting mouthwash that contains the ingredient xylitol is particularly effective in preventing a build up of gingivitis-causing plaque and preventing tooth decay while helping to keep your mouth moist.
Don’t Use Cannabis
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One of the most common side effects of smoking cannabis is a severely dry mouth. Many users complain of cotton mouth so severe that no amount of liquid seems to quench their thirst while they are smoking cannabis and in the period after.
If you regularly suffer from thecotton mouth and are a cannabis user, then the quickest and easiest way to relieve your symptoms would be to stop using the drug.
Stop Smoking
It is not just smoking cannabis that can cause cotton mouth but smoking tobacco too. Studies have shown that smoking or chewing tobacco appears to be a major cause of developing a dry mouth.
They conclude that the salivary flow rate in smokers is significantly lower than in none smokers and that the individuals who regularly smoked were far more likely to suffer from a dry mouth.
It has also been found that other oral disorders that are frequently associated with having a dry mouth, such as halitosis and gingivitis, were also more likely to be found in those individuals who smoke than in those who do not.
Breathe Through Your Nose
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One common cause of a severely dry mouth which is frequently overlooked is an individual’s breathing pattern. A simple way to avoid developing a dry mouth is to breathe in and out through your nose rather than using your mouth. When we use the mouth to take in oxygen, the air hits the inside of our mouth and can cause our tongue and gums to dry out, causing a dry sensation that can make swallowing and eat incredibly difficult.
Breathing in through the mouth is particularly problematic when it occurs during sleep because of the longperiod that it takes place over. The mouth is not designed for the unnaturally dry conditions that the tongue and gums are subjected to during this process; this means that the feeling of discomfort will be more pronounced during the night, and your body will wake you up multiple times by telling you that you are thirsty.
Although it can be difficult to adjust to, breathing using your nasal passages instead of your mouth is one simple way to relieve cotton mouth quickly and easily.
Alter Your Air
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Not only could you try to change the way that you breathe in during the night, but you could also alter the air that you are breathing in, to help combat cotton mouth. The air that you are breathing in could be lacking in moisture, and this could be drying out your mouth and gums during the night and having a negative effect on your saliva production.
Why not try adding more moisture to the air at night by using a room humidifier? These handy little devices are now widely available in stores, however, if you are on a budget and cannot afford one you could always try to make your own using an online tutorial. The Best humidifier can be found here at the best price.
Other ways to add moisture to the air that you are breathing include drying clothes indoors, boiling the kettle more frequently or simply getting a houseplant. You could also add moisture to the air and cure your cotton mouth by using a facial sauna or, failing that, you could take a hot shower and spend a few minutes inhaling the steam as it is released into the air.
Stimulate Your Saliva
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Another simple way to provide temporary relief when you are suffering from thecotton mouth is to stimulate your saliva glands. If your saliva production is low and your mouth is dry as a result, why not give your mouth a helping hand by popping some sugar-free chewing gum or a hard candy into your mouth to stimulate your saliva glands and aid production.
This is a really simple solution to easing the symptoms associated with cotton mouth and by simply keeping a packet of gum in your pocket you can quickly and easily alleviate the discomfort that a severely dry mouth brings.
Fake It
If you have tried various methods to cure your cotton mouth but you are still struggling with the discomfort that it is bringing you, purchasing an over the counter saliva substitute is yet another option that you could consider.
Over the years, these products have gained in popularity and are now widely available from most good chemists. These products are ideal if you are in a situation where you require a quick cure for your dry mouth and chewing gum and candies are not appropriate. They are specifically designed to provide quick, temporary relief for those individuals who are suffering from the cotton mouth when their own saliva glands just do not seem to be working as they should.
Just remember that it’s always good to try out natural remedies before anything else. It helps to know that the treatment you are using are less likely to have side effects.
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