Just looking for some advice. I have Sjögrens Syndrome and have suffered with dry mouth for quite a while but I feel it’s got much worse the past few weeks which is uncomfortable as I work in a call centre so constantly talking. I love water so I always drink plenty anyway, I have been chewing sugar free gum for a long time even before I knew I had Sjögrens but feel after a while it makes my reflux worse, I have tried Dry Mouth spray which hasn’t really helped and I’ve been prescribed Salivix pastilles which unfortunately I don’t feel are helping either. Is there any reason as to why it’s all of a sudden got worse and has anybody got any other suggestions for helping dry mouth? Feel like I’m in the middle of a desert with a spicy dry tongue all the time.
Thank youuuuu Xxx
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Dani_7
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My GP just told me to ask in the pharmacy so I’m using Boots Dry Mouth spray mint flavour. Sounds like the Glandosane may be worth a try, is this prescribed to you or can you buy it over the counter? Xxx.
There is a Rx called Evoxac (pronounced Ev oh zack) that I take that my ENT prescribed 1 every twelve hours. It has literally stopped me from having “cottonmouth “. I hope this helps.
Hi Dani, what a joy it is to have dry mouth...especially when you wake up in the morning and your mouth is like the bottom of a budgie cage! I am afraid to tell you that in all my years I have not really come across a solution that resolves it completely, and everyone is a bit different so it is about tailoring it to you.
There are a number of products on the market...and lots that can be prescribed by your GP that you might want to try. There are a range of mouth sprays, gels and pastilles. Glandosane is one of the better known mouth sprays. Biotene is a company that do gels, mouthwashes, toothpastes etc for people with dry mouths. I would just experiment. The problem is that many products...especially the gels and sprays are what I call an all or nothing phenomena. You add them to your mouth and there is loads in there...and it is too much and then you swallow most of it and then hey presto you are back to where you started! You can suck sugar free sweets but even when they are sugar free then they do create an environment in your mouth which is more acid and allows germs to breed which is not good for your teeth and gums. Mints are the same issue.
Chewing gum is fine as long as you do it after a meal or after eating a snack. This helps to keep producing saliva which helps to break down the food in your mouth and clean your teeth (a bit), and helps your food digest and go down into the stomach. however, if you are constantly using chewing gum on an empty stomach then it will increase your production of stomach acid (because the process of you chewing tells the stomach that food is on its way so it needs to prepare) but when no food arrives it can cause problems like reflux.
Good old water is the best thing. Drinking copious amounts will not help dry mouth. Regular sips and swills are best. Some drinks like tea dry the mouth because of the tannin in them so they can make it worse.
Are you in an air conditioned atmosphere because that is the main culprit for a dry mouth and dry eyes in my experience. Regular breaks to the outside or any area that is not conditioned can help.
Ah thank you Lucy! Your advice is much appreciated. Yes I think it is just a case of experimenting and there are a few other suggestions above which I’m keen to try. Yes I chew chewing gum practically all day long at the moment which isn’t great. I don’t really drink tea or coffee anyway which is good so I don’t have that making it worse. Yes, I am in an air conditioned call centre and now you’ve mentioned it you’re probably right, I find my dry mouth Is always worse at work! Thank you again for your advice and enjoy your weekend 😊 Xxx
Hi Dani, I've given up on the all the prescribed stuff and stick to my bottled water. Hope you manage to find some to give you some relief. I find my dry mouth is less troublesome in the daytime but I wake up in the night feeling like my teeth, tongue and face have fused together - what fun we have don't we.
Hi, first question - are you taking Amitriptyline - well known for dry mouth issues? I tried to get a different medicine to treat my "peripheral neuropathy" but my GP was convinced I would get the same problem whatever I use.
I have found 2 things recently that help me.
I now make a full glass of warm water (best if it is just cool enough to drink it down in a few mouthfuls) and drink it all just before bed (about 200-250ml). My mouth is definitely better during the night and when I first awake,
I now use "Colgate Sensitive Pro Relief Mouthrinse" after cleaning my teeth (no idea if this is relevant but I rinse away the toothpaste with water before i use the mouthwash). I've found it keeps my mouth noticeably more comfortable for 15mins to 30mins afterwards. So sorry I don't have a longer term solution.
Just a thought - have you spoken to your Dentist and/or your Pharmacist to see if they can suggest anything?
Rub a little vasalene onto the front of your teeth. It stops them from sticking to the insides of your lips/mouth. Doesn't help with the dryness but does prevent annoying dry lips sticking to dry teeth.
Do not drink pure lemon juice, yes it works to keep your mouth from being dry (a squirt of jiff lemon I would often have) but apparently the acid in the lemon juice devolves your teeth.
Maybe try drinking cool lemon tea (the teabag kind) it's quite refreshing especially when ice cold. I like the lemon & pomegranate tea bags.
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