12 Incredible Ways to Wet Your Whistle & Stop Dry Mouth (We Never Thought of #4!)

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Is it true that loud mouths get dry mouths? Although you might think that would be the case, Chatty Cathys and those perpetual loud mouths, although they might get sore throats, don’t necessarily have dry mouth. Technically dry mouth is known as xerostomia, a condition in which the saliva production in mouth shuts down for unknown reasons.

Your saliva actually has many important duties, including helping you talk, chew, spit, swallow; cleaning your teeth; lubricating food for swallowing; helping to predigest food, and re-mineralizing your pearly whites.

Although the exact reason for this condition is unknown, the most common factor is the use of certain medications. Read any prescription’s warning label, and you will find that dry mouth is one of the first side effects listed. The worst offenders are antihistamines and other types of allergy medications. Other drugs that can cause dry mouth are used to treat depression, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

Other factors that can cause dry mouth include smoking, radiation therapy, menopause, and removal of the salivary glands due to disease or injury. Pregnant women or breastfeeding mothers sometimes experience dry mouth due to hormone changes.

Although it won’t really hurt you, that cotton mouth feeling is terribly irritating and annoying. If you suffer from dry mouth and are looking to wet your whistle, we have 12 natural ways to help stop that sticky tongue feeling. Keep reading and find out which methods might work best for you.

1. Aniseed

One of the ugly things that goes along with dry mouth is bad breath. Chewing a few aniseed can help to stop bad breath and increase saliva production. If you have ever eaten at an Indian restaurant, you might have noticed small bowls of anise seeds on the table. This is a common way to stop bad breath after meals in this country. Chewing on some of these seeds can be a real lifesaver.

2. The Obvious

Dehydration is one of the main causes behind dry mouth. Drinking plenty of water and eating foods that are water-based is a great way to help fight dry mouth. Besides drinking the recommended eight or 10 glasses of water, you can also try:

Sucking on ice
Eating partially frozen chunks of fruits such as watermelon, cucumber, and pineapple
Drink smoothies, vegetable juice, and fruit juices
Drink a few glasses of coconut water
Drink more herbal tea such as green tea or black tea
Eat more soups and stews
Avoid sodas and alcoholic drinks as these lead to dehydration

3. Ginger

Ginger is super effective when it comes to fighting a dry mouth by stimulating the production of saliva. You can chew a small fresh piece of ginger root slowly throughout the day. You can also drink two or three cups of ginger tea mixed with a bit of raw honey to encourage your salivary glands to keep up production.

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4. Rosemary

If you have tried those over-the-counter mouthwashes, you know that most of them are full of alcohol, which does kill germs, but also dries out your mouth. You can make your own moisturizing mouthwash by mixing one teaspoon each of aniseed, rosemary, and mint in 2.5 cups of boiling water. Cover and steep for 20 to 30 minutes. Strain and refrigerate. Use this natural mouthwash as often as needed to stop dry mouth and the bad breath that comes with it. Store the extra in the refrigerator in a tightly sealed container.

5. Cayenne Pepper

If you have ever tasted this spice before you already know that it encourages the salivary glands to really increase their production! It also helps to clear out the taste buds so you can taste your foods better. Simply press a tiny bit of ground cayenne pepper on a moist fingertip and rub it around on your tongue. You will feel the burn, but it will only last for a short time. You should notice an increase in your saliva production in less than a minute!

6. Cardamom

This is an ancient Ayurvedic remedy to help fight dry mouth. Chewing a cardamom pod will kill the germs that cause bad breath while increasing increases moisture in the mouth. Simply chew on a pod of cardamom after every meal and any time you feel the beginning of cotton mouth.

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7. Fennel Seeds

Fennel seeds contain potent flavonoids that will stimulate the production of saliva while fighting bad breath. Like cardamom, simply munch on some fennel seeds several times each day to combat dry mouth.

8. Lemon

Lemon juice will relieve dry mouth by stimulating the production of saliva. The acidic nature of lemons can help kill the germs that cause bad breath and freshen your mouth at the same time. Make your own homemade lemonade by mixing lemon juice with water — but don’t use sugar to sweeten it; try raw honey instead.

9. Slippery Elm

This is an ancient remedy that Native Americans used to fight sore throats and dry mouth. Slippery elm contains something called mucilage, which becomes a slick gel when mixed with water. This gel will coat and soothe the membranes of the mouth and throat. Add two tablespoons of slippery elm to one cup of very hot water. Cover, and steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Strain, add a teaspoon of raw honey, and drink this tea twice each day.

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10. Grapeseed Oil

Not all oils work to relieve dry mouth but grapeseed oil is an effective remedy. Grapeseed oil has super moisturizing properties that will coat the mouth and keep it moist for hours. This oil is also high in vitamin E, which is great for the membranes of your mouth and can heal sores that sometimes occur with dry mouth. Simply dip a finger in some grapeseed oil and rub it on the insides of your cheeks and on the tongue. Do this after brushing your teeth, and leave the oil on during the night. In the morning, rinse with warm water and brush as you normally would.

11. Oil Pulling

If you haven’t heard of this, you are going to be shocked by how well this works. This is an ancient Ayurvedic practice that cleans the teeth, removes toxins, and is very helpful in treating dry mouth. This will also help you to maintain oral health and stop bad breath. Put one tablespoon of extra virgin coconut oil in your mouth and swish it around for 10 to 15 minutes. Spit the oil out in a trash can (not in the sink or toilet where it can clog the drain) then rinse your mouth with warm water. Brush your teeth as you normally would. Repeat every morning before you eat.

12. Aloe Vera

This is a terrific plant that can really help stop dry mouth while protecting the delicate tissues of the mouth. Rinse your mouth with aloe vera juice several times each day. Alternately, you can apply some pure aloe vera gel to your mouth using a cotton ball or your finger. Let it sit for five minutes, and then rinse your mouth with cool water. Repeat this several times each day.

Extra Tips:

Don’t smoke or chew tobacco as this makes the problem worse
Sleep with a humidifier to keep your mouth moist during the night
Breath through your nose, not your mouth
Inhale the steam from herbal teas to keep your nasal passages open and moisturized
Clean your tongue daily to avoid the build-up of bacteria
Drink water while eating, and chew your food thoroughly
If you get mouth sores, limit your consumption of spicy or acidic foods

References:

Pmj.sagepub.com

Journals.plos.org

Umm.edu

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