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Saliva provides lubrication for chewing and swallowing and aids in digestion—but for some people, certain conditions cause a decrease in saliva flow and lead to dry mouth. Luckily, there are treatments available for dry mouth, including a saliva substitute. Here we’ll look at artificial saliva and how to care for dry mouth.
Dry mouth, also called xerostomia, can come from several conditions—medication side effects, autoimmune disease, chemotherapy, radiation, and more, as stated by the American Dental Association (ADA). Signs and symptoms can look like:
What’s more, dry mouth can have an impact on your dental health and lead to tooth decay, inflammation, and oral infections. That’s because natural saliva works to cleanse your oral cavity, helps you to chew and swallow food, maintains a neutral pH in your mouth, and prevents demineralization of your teeth.
When it comes to treating and managing symptoms of dry mouth, you have options. According to The Cleveland Clinic, there are three main courses of action: managing the medical conditions and medication(s) causing dry mouth, preventing tooth decay, and increasing saliva production.
When it comes to increased saliva production, your oral care provider might recommend an artificial saliva spray or rinse, which you can purchase over the counter. In some cases, they may also prescribe a drug that promotes the increase of natural saliva. While artificial saliva products can help, they do not contain digestive and antibacterial enzymes or other biological saliva proteins and minerals.
Aside from artificial saliva, the ADA mentions other remedies you can try to relieve dry mouth:
You may need to try a few different treatments to find the one that works best for you. Use artificial saliva as often as needed or per your doctor’s direction, but make sure not to eat or drink for at least 15 minutes after use.
A saliva substitute, or saliva replacement product, replaces natural saliva. Further, according to the FDA, artificial salivas are regulated by FDA as medical devices, and their purpose is to moisten and lubricate the mouth. They do not stimulate the salivary glands to produce saliva.
In contrast, a saliva stimulant increases the natural production of saliva. According to the ADA, the most efficient way to stimulate salivary flow is chewing. It causes muscles to compress the salivary glands and release saliva; that's why chewing your food well is so important. Chewing gum may help increase saliva production, but note that the ADA recommends sugarless brands.
When you have a dry mouth, good oral hygiene is even more important to help remove bacteria and plaque biofilm that can cause tooth decay and gum disease. Brush twice a day with a soft-bristle toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste, floss daily, and use peroxide-free and alcohol-free dry mouth mouthwashes to avoid drying out your mouth.
If you suffer from dry mouth, be sure to reach out to your oral care provider to discuss your symptoms, and develop a treatment plan that works best. You don’t have to live day-to-day with the annoyance of dry mouth. Several treatment options, including artificial saliva, that can get your mouth feeling healthy and back to normal.
This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general oral health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dentist or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.
