Does your mouth feel parched, no matter how much water you drink? Dry mouth is more than just an uncomfortable annoyance; it can lead to serious dental problems. Saliva helps prevent tooth decay by washing food and plaque off of your teeth and limiting the growth of bacteria that can damage tooth enamel and cause gum disease. Your dentist or physician may recommend medication to stimulate the flow of saliva if your problem doesn't resolve on its own. Here are some other suggestions that may help:

1. Sip water frequently during the day, and keep a glass of water at your bedside at night. Adding a little lemon juice can help stimulate saliva flow.
2. Avoid both salty and sugary foods.
3. Avoid alcohol (and mouthwashes containing alcohol), caffeine and tobacco - all can dry the mouth.
4. Suck on sugar-free hard candy or chew sugarless gum to improve your saliva flow. (The sweetener Xylitol helps reduce cavities, but avoid aspartame, saccharin, and lemon-flavored hard candy - it turns saliva acidic, which increases the risk of tooth decay.)
5. Use a humidifier at home.
6. Try commercial saliva substitutes in the form of lozenges or sprays - available at drugstores - to help keep your mouth moist.
7. Check your meds, as dry mouth is a common side effect of many drugs.

While you're dealing with dry mouth, make an extra effort to keep your teeth and gums in good shape: Be sure to brush twice a day and floss daily to prevent plaque build-up, and have your teeth and gums checked regularly.

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