Ask the Experts- December 2020

Dear Red Hot Mamas,

I wanted to write to you about Sam, my husband. He always is complaining that he has a dry mouth. It seems pretty uncomfortable for him. Any information you could provide to me would be appreciated. I read your newsletter all the time and so does Sam. Thank you.

Laurie

Dear Laurie,

As men get older they sometimes suffer from dry mouth. This condition is known as xerostomia. Dry mouth happens when salivary glands fail to work properly. This causes a decrease in saliva production. The dryness may be uncomfortable for Sam. It may be a temporary problem or a chronic one.

Dry mouth can also be a side effect from medications. There are numerous medications which can affect salivary function. So it is important that Sam knows his medications and whether one has a side effect of dry mouth. If his dry mouth is due to a medication he is taking he should ask his doctor if there is an alternative medication which he could take. Snoring may also contribute to dry mouth. Sam should also discuss this issue with his doctor and dentist.

Here are some tips to prevent dry mouth:

• Stay hydrated by sipping water often
• Watch how much coffee or tea you drink because caffeine can dry out the mouth
• Chewing gum or sucking on a sugarless hard candy can help stimulate saliva flow
• Use a nasal strip at night to reduce snoring and sleeping with the mouth open
• Run a humidifier in your bedroom at night to keep moisture in the air
• Use an oral moisturizer or gel that a dentist recommends which are designed to provide relief from dry mouth

Please tell Sam not to ignore this problem and get some key advice from his doctor.

Hope this information is helpful.