Do you feel like your saliva’s feeling pasty a little lately? Maybe you have a hard time speaking because of the dryness in your mouth—or even worse, bad breath. If you’ve got all three, then chances are you’re suffering from a dry mouth. But don’t worry, we’ve compiled a list of foods you should and shouldn’t eat for your dry mouth diet.
Dry Mouth: What Causes It and Its Symptoms
Dry mouth, or xerostomia, is a condition wherein your salivary glands don’t produce enough saliva to maintain the moisture in your mouth. This results in dehydration, as well as struggles with chewing, speaking, or swallowing, and even bad breath, to name a few.
There are OTC drugs available for purchase in every leading drug store, but if you opt for a natural remedy, then you should check out the foods on this list to not only to relieve your dry mouth but also to improve your overall oral health.
Yogurt
Your gut isn’t the only one benefiting whenever you eat yogurt; it’s also one of the recommended foods you should eat when you’re suffering from a dry mouth. Just make sure that the one you eat is sugar-free too.
Cucumber
Believe it or not, a few cucumber slices can ease a lot of your dry mouth symptoms. These chunks of freshness have a high water content, so they solve two things: dehydration and stimulating your salivary production.
Pineapple
If you’re not a fan of cucumbers, then you could always opt for fruits, but we’re talking about pineapples in particular. This fruit contains an enzyme called bromelain, which is known for its anti-inflammatory properties.
Gum
Also on this list of things you should eat for dry mouth relief is gum—the sugar-free kind. There are a lot of OTC ones, but we highly recommend you shop for Xylimelts for dry mouth. It’s one of the trusted brands recommended by dentists and health professionals. While you’re at it, you could check out some of their other oral health care products, so feel free to shop at Xylimelts for dry mouth in Australia: Orien Dental Supplies.
Avocado
Another highly-advised food you should eat for dry mouth relief and to stimulate saliva production in your mouth is avocado. This fruit is also rich in healthy fats, so just toss it into your salad or include it in your sandwiches.
Coconut Water
One of the best thirst-quenching yet underrated beverages out there is coconut water. As we all know, dehydration is the most common cause of dry mouth, so if you’re not too fond of eating any of the foods we listed above, then you should at least drink this.
As for foods you need to limit, if not totally avoid, you should cut back on your alcohol and caffeine intake since these two contribute to dry mouth.
Incorporating these foods into your diet will surely improve your dry mouth symptoms, but ultimately, you should first consider consulting with your doctor or dentist, especially if symptoms persist. Just remember to take care of your overall hygiene and not focus on one aspect, since doing so would definitely improve your dry mouth discomfort.
