Dry Mouth
A common cause for dry mouth is aging. As a person ages, the ability to generate saliva lessens. Overuse of medication is another cause for dry mouth. More than 400 over-the-counter medications are known to cause dry mouth. Bad news for caffeine lovers, it is the leading course of dry mouth. In order to decrease the symptoms of dry mouth avoid the following:
- Phosphoric acid, found in soft drinks
- Citric acids, found in citric-based juices
- Coffee that contains caffeine
- Also avoid smoking, antihistamines and decongestants.
Simple remedies
- Drink water regularly
- Suck on fruits that have pits
- Sugarless varieties of candy and gum will help generate saliva in the mouth.
- Drink lemon juice diluted with water or rinse the mouth with some lemon and glycerin but be careful, the citric acid could become an irritant if a person is suffering from mouth sores,
- Eat raw carrots, celery and apples
- Breathe through your nose and use a humidifier
- Use a high fluoride toothpaste and brush teeth at least twice a day
Bad Breath
Depending on what is causing it, 80 to 90 percent of cases is due to something in the mouth. Normally the cause is a dirty mouth but plaque is often responsible for bad breath. The nearly invisible film of bacteria is constantly forming in your mouth. Bad breath is also caused by cavities and gum disease. Sometimes the cause of bad breath is something in the lungs, gastrointestinal tract or a body wide infection. It is important to get regular check ups with your dentist and primary doctor. If these issues are not the cause of bad breath here are some things to try:
- Avoid garlic, onions and alcohol. The strong odor is carried through the bloodstream and exhaled by the lungs
- Avoid tobacco