Feeling Parched?

Anyone can experience xerostomia, also known as dry mouth. It affects the function of the salivary glands and can happen to anyone occasionally due to stress or being nervous. It is also experienced by many for other reasons such as hormonal changes or as a side effect to certain medications.

Some of the symptoms of dry mouth include a parched feeling in the mouth, thick or stringy saliva, a rough tongue, excessive thirst, mouth sores, bad breath, loss of taste, cracked lips and difficulty chewing, speaking or swallowing. Dry mouth can make chewing food difficult and can possibly lead to tooth decay if not treated.

If you experience dry mouth, here are some helpful home remedies to help find relief from this uncomfortable condition.

• Increase your fluid intake. Aside from water, look for different ways to sneak in some H2O in your fruits and vegetable such as cucumber, watermelons and pineapple to get the salivary glands activated and working.
• Try some ginger or fennel seeds as a salivary stimulant. The flavonoids in fennel seeds stimulate the flow of saliva and their aromatic flavor helps combat bad breath that accompanies dry mouth.
• Aloe Vera is not only for used for sun burns, but is an age-old remedy to treat dry mouth. It also helps protect the sensitive tissue in the mouth and enhances the taste buds. Try drinking a ¼ cup of aloe vera juice daily or rinse your mouth with aloe vera juice a few times a day.

If you feel you are experiencing more severe symptoms, please consult a physician or schedule an appointment with through the Ambulatory Care Center at Flushing Hospital Medical Center at 718-670-5486.