How Do I Treat Dry Mouth?

If you have dry mouth, you know it can really affect your quality of life. Dry mouth is uncomfortable, plus it makes it harder to chew, swallow, and enjoy food. Some people can even have trouble speaking from dry mouth. And over time, dry mouth can lead to dental problems and mouth infections. 

If you’re living with this condition, there are many dry mouth remedies that can bring you lasting relief from your symptoms. From over-the-counter (OTC) options to prescription medications, here’s a list of dry mouth treatments. 

What causes dry mouth?

It isn’t always clear why people develop dry mouth (xerostomia). But some things known to cause dry mouth include:

• Medications: Medications are the most common reason people develop dry mouth. There’s a long list of medications that can lead to dry mouth, including some common OTC items like antihistamines and pain relievers.  

• Cancer treatment: Cancer treatments can also lead to dry mouth. Many types of chemotherapy cause dry mouth. Radiation treatment in the head and neck areas can also cause dry mouth. 

• Medical conditions: Many medical conditions can lead to dry mouth, including Sjögren disease, hepatitis C, diabetes, and high blood pressure. 

• Diet: Some research suggests that eating too much spicy food or drinking too much caffeine or alcohol can lead to dry mouth.

• Tobacco: Tobacco use can lead to dry mouth, which is another good reason to quit smoking. 

Can COVID cause dry mouth?

Right now there’s no evidence that COVID-19 illness can lead to dry mouth. But medications used to treat COVID-19 symptoms can cause dry mouth, including:

• Decongestants: COVID-19 causes mucus buildup and nasal swelling from inflammation. Decongestants can relieve sinus pain and pressure from COVID-19 illness but can also lead to dry mouth. Popular OTC options, like Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) and Afrin (oxymetazoline), and prescription nasal steroids can all lead to dry mouth. 

• Antihistamines: Antihistamines can relieve a runny nose. ANd all types of antihistamines can cause dry mouth. This includes OTC options like cetirizine (Zyrtec), diphenhydramine (Benadryl), fexofenadine (Allegra), and loratadine (Claritin).

Dry mouth remedies to try at home

There are many at-home and OTC remedies beyond medications that can help dry mouth, like:

• Sugar-free gum: Chewing sugar-free gum that contains xylitol helps your salivary glands produce more saliva. Studies show that most types of gum boost your saliva production, but it’s best to stick with sugar-free gum for cavity protection. If you can’t chew gum, sucking on sugar-free hard candy also works. 

• Cold liquids or ice chips: Sip cool liquids throughout the day and whenever you wake up at night. This helps manage your symptoms and makes it easier to eat, chew, and speak. Water is a great option, but if you need more flavor, you can also add in unsweetened or sugar-free drinks. Ice chips can also substitute for sips of water and help keep you cool on hot days. Aim for at least 64 ounces of liquid each day, and make sure to avoid caffeinated drinks. 

• Saliva substitutes: There are many types of OTC saliva substitutes, like Biotene and BioXtra. These come as gels, liquids, sprays, and lozenges. Saliva substitutes aren’t just fluids, they contain important nutrients and proteins found in saliva. This can help prevent dental decay and relieve dry mouth symptoms. There’s not a lot of research on which brand works best, so you might need to try different ones before you find your preferred product. 

• Oral care: A good oral hygiene routine won’t relieve dry mouth symptoms right away. But over time, it will lower your risk of dental decay and oral infections. Make sure to brush twice a day with toothpaste that has fluoride, floss twice a day, and use an alcohol-free mouthwash. See your dentist regularly for checkups, cleanings, and fluoride treatments. Your dentist may also recommend a sodium fluoride rinse. 

Prescription dry mouth treatments

If home remedies and OTC options aren’t enough, there are prescription medications you can try for dry mouth relief: 

• Pilocarpine (Salagen) has been used for decades to treat dry mouth. It stimulates salivary gland function, so you make more saliva. It’s available as a tablet, lozenge, and drops. One form may work better for you than the others. 

• Cevimeline (Evoxac) makes your salivary glands produce more saliva. It’s available in a tablet that you take three times per day. 

Is dry mouth serious? 

Dry mouth is very common, especially as people get older and tend to develop chronic medical conditions and take more medications. It’s rarely a sign of an undiagnosed medical condition. 

Dry mouth can lead to more concerning oral health problems, like infections and dental decay. It can also make it hard for you to eat, which can affect your overall health. Try at-home remedies and talk to your healthcare provider about prescription options to relieve your dry mouth symptoms. 

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Written by:

Tracy Norfleet, MD, FACP

Dr. Tracy Norfleet is a board-certified Internal Medicine physician, health expert, and physician leader with over 20 years of experience practicing adult medicine. Dual-certified by the American Board of Obesity Medicine and the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine, Dr. Tracy possesses a wealth of knowledge and expertise in both traditional medical practices and innovative lifestyle interventions for chronic disease management and reversal.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

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