Dry mouth

[Mittagating]

Hi, generally doing really well but serious sleep disruption due to dry mouth. Brought it up with Rheumy nurse who shrugged and said ask GP. GP says ask Rheumy (always!!)🙄). Anyone else had this? Ok through the day, no dry eyes, mouth sticks together at night and I wake every 20-30 for sip of water.... any ideas?

[allanah]

She shrugged , really !!! It's one of the most common side effects of RA probably. It's a side effect of drugs and just RA for people. You can get mouth sprays to use before bed etc. There is a good site for sjogrens disease that gives you loads of ideas for dry mouth.

I have it and find it depends on what drugs I'm on, how bad it gets, so yes sips of water, I go nowhere with water , and mouth sprays. Some people like gum.

But when you talk to the rheumy, not the I'll informed nurse lol, tell him the symptom . I also get salivary gland scans yearly .

Loads of luck, it really bothered me at first,

[Mittagating in reply to allanah]

Thank you! Just picked up mouth gel. Was beginning to think probably Sjögren ☹️ It’s the lack of decent sleep that’s really doing my head in! Hoping the gel will fix it a bit. I’ve got a full consult next month. Good to get help thx

[allanah in reply to Mittagating]

Good primary sjogrens has a lot of other problems so it might be, if it's like mine, a secondary sjogrens or maybe just one of the drugs you take has side effects of dry mouth. Yes do talk to doc x

[Hidden]

You might find some help on dry mouth on this website. British Sjogren's Syndrome Society

bssa.uk.net/

[Mittagating in reply to Hidden]

Thank you

[alexask]

Has anyone tried oil pulling with coconut oil for dry mouth?

[allanah in reply to alexask]

No. Havent heard that one x

[charisma]

My mouth was horribly dry when on Leflunomide. Off that and it cleared very quickly.

[Mittagating in reply to charisma]

I was on leflunamide briefly over a year ago maybe that triggered it. But sadly I’m stuck with it.

[happytulip]

Biotene mouthwash works for me. It's available on prescription or Amazon.

Sucking on watermelon and cucumber also helps. Cut down on any caffine or sugary drinks too.

Hope this helps.

[Mittagating in reply to happytulip]

Just picked up biotene gel from boots. They suggested best bet as this is affecting me at night and it should last best while I sleep, or try to. Thx for help, everyone being really helpful with ideas.

[happytulip in reply to Mittagating]

Would you mind letting me know how you get on with it please? I can't get out because of shielding and didn't know that gel existed.

My mouth is horrendously dry at night, almost painful in the morning.

Good luck with it.

[Mittagating in reply to happytulip]

Will do!

[Mittagating in reply to happytulip]

Well it’s only one night but it seems to work... I used it just before sleep, woke up once and used again and slept till morning (early, but still morning 😁). My water jug was still nearly full! It has absolutely no taste, feels a bit weird. But if it continues to work... I got it at boots. Guess you should be able to access it online? Good luck.

[happytulip in reply to Mittagating]

Thank you!

[allanah in reply to Mittagating]

I've used biotine gel , I found it helpful x hope you git some sleep. Ps be careful I was diabetic and dudnt know it increased my sugars!,😍😂

[Mittagating in reply to allanah]

They checked for diabetes when I said I was sipping water. Even though it wasn’t for thirst. I got all clear.

[Hidden]

Many people have Sicca with RA . Yes at night I can get a mouth so dry Iit’s like sand paper . This was my first symptom I also get very dry inside my nose and my eyes also. Now get these symptoms during the day but night time is worst. I have a nasal spray and a moth spray I use during the night. I also have eye drops and an eye gel( nighttime only). I don’t have it all the time . It’s comes intermittently.

Dental health is effected because you don’t make enough saliva so best tell your dentist.

[Mittagating in reply to Hidden]

Yes, inside of nose dry and prone to bleed. Thanks for help. Feels like my throat is stuck together and might tear! Sip of water releases it but it’s so short lived I’m not getting proper sleep. 🤞gel helps.

[Hidden in reply to Mittagating]

Good luck

[nomoreheels]

I complained about this when I started amitriptyline & initially my GP prescribed Salivix pastilles which didn’t help much. Then she prescribed Biotene gel which did. I also found nighttime worse, but then my greater dose was my evening dose so that made sense. I just kept the tube on my bedside table & used it before going to sleep which helped a lot. Don't have the problem any more but still have it if needed.

[Mittagating in reply to nomoreheels]

They decided not to give me amytriptyline because I already had the problem! Hoping biotene works for me

[Cal48]

Yes I get this .best dry mouth spray that doesn’t taste too bad is Boots . It can help.

[lawra]

Doc gave me salivix. That didn’t help. I tried xylimelts. They help and seem to be good for teeth. But you have to hold them to stick them to your gums and I’m not so able to get back to sleep. Also they are expensive. Right now I am sooking jakemans. But I need to find something else as that’s a choking hazard and bad for my teeth! I might try and get that biotene gel ...