Unlocking the Power of Saliva: A Natural Protector Against Dry Mouth
Xerostomia, or dry mouth, is a surprisingly common condition affecting nearly 60% of adults to varying degrees. As a dental professional, I see firsthand how this seemingly simple issue can ignite a cascade of oral health challenges. Dry mouth isn't just an inconvenience—it’s a significant disruptor in the disease process.
One of the biggest culprits behind reduced salivary flow is prescription medication. It’s staggering to consider: nearly every medication on the market lists dry mouth as a side effect. Now, imagine the compounding effect for those on multiple prescriptions.
In my practice, I often work with elderly patients who come in with a lengthy list of medications. During assessments, the signs are unmistakable—tissues that appear flaccid and dry, accompanied by heavy deposits of soft plaque around the teeth. Beneath that plaque, the gums are red, inflamed, and irritated—a clear indication of the battle their oral environment is fighting daily.
But here’s the inspiring part: saliva, nature’s own oral defender, holds incredible restorative power. Composed of a complex blend of electrolytes, proteins, enzymes, and immunoglobulins, saliva is the body’s natural shield, uniquely designed to protect and repair.
The Marvels of Saliva in Action
Let’s break down the science behind this miraculous fluid:
pH Balance & Buffering: Bicarbonates, phosphates, and urea help maintain a balanced pH, reducing the acidic environment where harmful bacteria thrive.
Cleansing & Defense: Macromolecule proteins and mucins act like microscopic cleaning crews, aggregating harmful microorganisms while supporting healthy plaque metabolism.
Strengthening Teeth: Calcium, phosphate, and proteins work as a team to combat demineralization, promoting the remineralization of enamel.
Antibacterial Power: Immunoglobulins, proteins, and enzymes provide a dynamic defense against harmful bacteria, keeping infections at bay. (1)
Saliva also aids in cleansing the palate and debris that get caught while eating. Without saliva, it’s nearly impossible to swallow or talk. Xerostomia also sets up the mouth for a higher risk for decay. In this photo, root surfaces, which are not covered by enamel and along the gumline have developed cavities.
Saliva isn’t just a passive bystander—it’s an active participant in maintaining oral health, warding off disease, and promoting healing. When its production is compromised, as in cases of xerostomia, the entire oral ecosystem is thrown off balance.
Solutions for Dry Mouth Relief
While nothing truly compares to our body’s natural saliva, there are over-the-counter products that can provide relief. Many products claim to alleviate dry mouth symptoms but often fall short. After years of experience and patient feedback, here are my top recommendations:
This spray has received glowing reviews from my patients. It contains aloe vera, which is both soothing and moisturizing, and xylitol, which encourages natural saliva production. With two sizes included in the package, I suggest keeping the larger one at home and carrying the smaller size in a purse for on-the-go relief.
These small discs dissolve slowly when placed above the upper molars before bedtime. They help maintain moisture throughout the night while xylitol discourages bacterial growth.
For more severe cases of xerostomia, this saline solution with xylitol can help lubricate the back of the throat. As a bonus, research has shown this nasal spray to be effective against viruses, bacteria, and fungi.
Tips and Natural Remedies
Interestingly, some common practices for addressing dry mouth may not be as effective as they seem. For instance:
Water: While hydration is vital, drinking plain water—especially hot or hard water—can actually dry out tissues.
Caffeinated Beverages: Coffee and tea are often dehydrating and should be consumed sparingly.
Mouth Rinses: Many commercial mouthwashes can disrupt the delicate balance of oral microorganisms, potentially worsening dry mouth symptoms.
For those seeking natural ways to soothe dry mouth, here are my favorite herbal remedies and how to use them:
This herb soothes not only the mouth but the entire digestive tract. Best prepared as a cold infusion:
Place 1 tablespoon of organic marshmallow root in a cup of water and let it sit overnight. In the morning, strain the plant material.
Use as a mouth rinse (swish and swallow) or sip throughout the day as needed.
A sweet herb that adds moisture and acts as an antimicrobial. Best prepared as a hot infusion:
Add 2 teaspoons of licorice root to a cup of hot water and let it steep overnight. Strain in the morning.
Use as a rinse or sip throughout the day.
Known for its role in flavoring beverages, this herb is also moisturizing and antimicrobial. Prepare it as you would licorice root.
A deeply soothing herb for dry tissues and a renowned remedy for GERD symptoms. Prepare as a hot infusion, following the same method as licorice root.
Dry mouth doesn’t have to be a chronic struggle. With the right strategies and a touch of nature’s wisdom, relief is within reach. These solutions empower us to support and enhance the body’s natural defenses, fostering comfort and health for the long term.
(1) Humphrey, S. Willamson, R. A Review of Saliva: Normal Composition, Flow, and Function. Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Vol. 85:2, February 2001.
Are You Exempt?
Sugar is in virtually every processed food in some way, shape, and form. Food manufacturers have chemically altered our food to make our brains crave it. As a result, the American population continues to become sicker with a compromised quality of life. Sugar cravings can be strong and the temptations are difficult to resist for those who have a sweet tooth. The white stuff can difficult to avoid, and a person has to be a savvy label reader to understand all the different names of sugar. Plus, the names keep changing, which makes it even harder. Don’t be fooled into thinking sugar free is better. As a matter of fact, it’s worse. It’s never a good idea to put toxins into the body and think there won’t be negative consequences.
Sugar is in virtually every processed food in some way, shape, and form. Food manufacturers have chemically altered our food to make our brains crave it. As a result, the American population continues to become sicker with a compromised quality of life. Sugar cravings can be strong and the temptations are difficult to resist for those who have a sweet tooth. The white stuff can difficult to avoid, and a person has to be a savvy label reader to understand all the different names of sugar. Plus, the names keep changing, which makes it even harder. Don’t be fooled into thinking sugar free is better. As a matter of fact, it’s worse. It’s never a good idea to put toxins into the body and think there won’t be negative consequences. What’s more, those toxins get trapped in fat cells and can cause disease. That’s why eating real, whole foods is beneficial. Our food is our best medicine, but if we give our body junk, we will get a junkie body. If we give it nourishment, we will get a healthy body.
Breaking up with sugar is essential for both oral health and systemic health. As a dental hygienist, I have seen firsthand patients who negate sugar from their diet. Their oral/gum appearance is healthy, with stippled gingiva and no bleeding. As much as we want to stick to the old models of brush, floss, and rinse, there is so much more than those principles in achieving oral health. It starts and ends with sugar. Why? Sugar is an inflammatory product. NO ONE is exempt from the inflammatory effects of sugar. Inflammation is linked to virtually every chronic disease: cardiovascular disease, cancer, IBS, eczema, autoimmune disorders, Alzheimer’s Disease, and more. That’s why it’s so destructive. Get off the sugar train and enjoy the only life you have…before it’s too late.
Here are a few tips that can help in your break up with sugar…..
Protein up: Protein plays a valuable role in balancing the blood sugar levels. Often times when a craving for sugar or carbohydrate hits, what is needed is a good source of protein. It's also digested at a slower rate than carbohydrates and the protein-rich foods are usually low on the glycemic index.
Balanced sugar level: When sugar is ingested, blood sugar levels spike and that "sugar rush" is reached. Whatever goes up, comes down and that crash can leave the body feeling sluggish and desperate for another sugar fix. Stabilize the blood sugar by consuming meals that include a mix of complex carbohydrates, fiber, healthy fats and protein. Since this mix will take a while to break down and absorb, the blood sugar level will be more balanced and cravings for sugar will be reduced.
Drink water: Staying well hydrated improves digestion, reduces pain, lubricates joints, fuels cells, transports chemical messengers throughout the body, enhances kidney function, and keeps up feeling energized. Studies show drinking water prior to a meal will prevent overeating and may lead to weight loss. When satiety is reached, there is a less likely chance of indulging in a cookie or a slice of cake.
Go to sleep: Sleep deprivation increased the production of the hunger hormone, ghrelin. When the body is sleep deprived, the chances of eating junk food like pizza and candy are greatly increased. These foods activate the reward centers of the brain which indicates likely unhealthy choices will be made when the body is really craving is sleep. Try to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night and those sugar cravings will reduce or may even disappear altogether.
Sip some tea: Before reaching for a sugary snack, brew a cup of tea first. By the time the water gets hot and the tea seeps, the craving will likely pass. Choosing a tea with spices like cinnamon, ginger or turmeric will help regulate blood sugar.
Keep sugar out: The best way to beat sugar cravings is to not purchase them in the first place. If the sugary treats aren't in the house, there is a less likely chance of temptation. Instead stock the pantry and fridge with fresh vegetable, fruits, nuts, seeds, spices and teas that is in ready reach when a craving or hunger strikes.
Health Bite: Now is the time to break up with sugar.
All Water is NOT Created Equal
Sometime BC (before children), my husband and I drove across the mountain to a larger city. I needed to stop, so he pulled into a convenience store. When I got back into the car, I said to Joe, “You’re not going to believe what I just saw! There was bottled water FOR SALE! Can you believe someone would buy water when it’s FREE?” That seems decades ago…well it was decades ago; my how things have changed.
The United States has some of the safest water in the world. Treatment centers test the water prior to allowing it into the public for consumption, yet the population at large purchases bottled water. Other countries in the world are certainly not as fortunate to experience clean water, but we can actually drink ours from our kitchen or bathroom sink.
According to the Beverage Marketing Corporation, in 2014, the U.S. bottled water market neared 11 million gallons and Americans consumed 34 gallons of water per person. By the end of the decade, bottle water is expected to be the largest beverage category by volume in the United States. Water is free from calories, artificial ingredients, and our body needs this important substance for health. Are you wondering why I’m discussing water yet? What most people don’t realize is all water is not equal.
Dasani and Aquafina are manufactured by Coke and Pepsi, respectfully. Both have a pH under the optimal standards of 6.5 – 8.5. We want to be as close to a pH of 7.0 as possible. When the pH falls below 6.5, there is an acidic attack going on in our mouth. This attack disrupts enamel and root surfaces raising the incidence for cavities and gingivitis. Soft drinks have a pH range from 2.38 to 4.75.
Below is a table that lists the pH of some of more popular waters sold:
BRAND pH
Vitamin water 3.4
Propel Zero 3.5
Aquafina 4.0
Dasani 4.5
Perrier 5.5
Poland Spring 5.8
Crystal Geyser 6.0
Deer Park 6.3
Smart Water 6.5
Great Value Walmart 6.5
Arrowhead 6.8
Evian 7.0
Fiji 7.5
As we get older, our mouth becomes drier. The tendency is to drink water to “wet our whistle.” Medications can make the mouth very dry as does smoking. When the mouth is dry, bacteria stick to the teeth. Many people will drink water to help the dryness, but what choice we make can be a difference in our health. To fight off disease, our bodies need to remain more alkaline. The typical American diet sets us up for an acidic body, and then we drink some acidic bottled water. The body is then ripe for disease to take place. If bottle water is what you do, then here a few tips to bring it back to basic. Place a half teaspoon of baking soda in the water or squeeze the juice of half a lemon into the bottle. Both will raise the pH to be more basic and healthy place. The best choice, in my opinion, it to purchase a good-quality, stainless steel or glass water bottle and fill it from either the sink or filtered refrigerated water. Water used to be free, but we have turned the corner here in American, making water one of the best selling beverages. No wonder Coke and Pepsi wanted in on this market.
Heath bite: Not all bottled water is equal.
Find the Connection
No doubt you have likely heard the phrase "oral systemic link" shot around in literature and on news shows, but what does it mean? The medical and dental community for years had separate thoughts about what the other practiced, and so was divided in assisting people in their health quests. Not so any longer.
What research has been suggesting over the past decade is that the health of the mouth tells us much about the health of the whole body. No longer should we treat each separately. Finding ways to bring health to one, can bring health to the other. Gingival inflammation (gingivitis) is often the first onset of diabetes. It is marked by bleeding and swelling gums, although it slips through the radar of the general population because most people don't clean in between their teeth. You see, this is where the disease starts. The tissue is more fragile and susceptible to disease in between the teeth. It's likely to have more bacteria stuck there because it can hide and not get dislodged with daily activity (eating, drinking, and talking.). The oral cavity can show disease within a few months, but it takes decades for it to show up in our bodies. Take notice to how your gums look. Ask your dental professional how your oral health is at your check ups. Talk to your hygienist, ask questions, and take their advice.
Even though diabetes is a serious disease, heart disease is another issue that has been linked to the oral cavity. Autopsies have shown bacteria that is normally found in the mouth in the heart, causing infections. Endocarditis is a serious and fatal infection. Inflammation in the gums happens because too many bacteria have made a home round the teeth. This initiates an immune response in which blood vessels open to allow white blood cells to start killing the bacteria. Just as easily as the white blood cells can work through to fight the bacteria, the bacteria also have access to enter the blood stream and flow to the heart. Thus, if the bacteria is able to stick around a little while, an infection can occur around the heart.
Pregnancy can be a factor in inflammation and gingivitis. Countless studies have linked oral infections, like severe gingivitis and active periodontal disease, for premature births. An autopsy performed on an infant that was still born revealed oral bacteria in the amnionic fluid causing infection and ultimately death. The mother had untreated periodontal disease.
Taking care of the gums and teeth is more than just brushing, which the only means in which most folks do. Diet places a part as well. Sugar is an inflammatory factor and the main source of food for bacteria. When you consume simple sugars, the bacteria begin to feast and then excrete acids that breakdown tooth enamel and cause the gums to become red. A high carbohydrate diet will leave behind more plaque that hardens into tartar, which is contributing factor to oral disease.
Using something to clean in between the teeth is actually more important than brushing. Why? Remember what I said about the tissue being more fragile in between? Bacteria want to make a home. A place to raise a family and build a community. You give them that opportunity when you don't clean in between the teeth. It's stuck there. It's not going anywhere. It's safe from chewing forces and getting swished around. As a matter of fact, it just has to sit and wait for food to come toward it in the saliva. It grabs what it wants to eat and lives on.
Do you get the picture? This is the oral-systemic link. Seek professional oral hygiene care regularly, and practice good oral hygiene at home. What you do at home makes the biggest impact!
Health-bite: practice excellent oral hygiene care for a healthy body
Wisdom Teeth--Should they stay or Should they go?
Most humans develop 32 permanent teeth. There are occasions in which permanent teeth do not develop, usually due to heredity factors. Some people don't develop any wisdom teeth while most have anywhere from one to four. There are other instances, in fact, when tooth buds don't appear to replace the primary teeth. In which case, primary teeth remain for a longer period of time. On the other hand, I have known some people who have developed more than four wisdom teeth! So why do dentist recommend they be removed? After all, God placed them there. There are some ethic groups whose jaw line is large enough to withstand that extra row of teeth, but not necessarily keep them clean enough to be disease free. Those of us who have a European background don't have jaw lines that provide that extra room for our wisdom teeth. As a result, they become impacted or partially erupted. In which case, they can become painful. Dental professionals have the unique opportunity to see outcomes of poor decisions over a life span. Looking into the mouth of a young adult, the dental professional can in vision, in some ways, the future outcomes of the teeth. On the other hand, looking into the mouth of the older adult gives much information.
"They aren't bothering me" is the usual response from a patient as to why the wisdom teeth are still present. The fact is they don't hurt YET! The photo on the left is a radiograph of an impacted wisdom tooth that has "grown" into the second molar. Because of the inability to clean around it well, bacteria has invaded the second molar. As a result, the second molar may be lost in a lifetime due to extensive decay caused by the wisdom tooth. Please note that the wisdom tooth still needs to be extracted PLUS a root canal, post, and crown will likely be placed on the second molar in an effort to save the tooth. "An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure" certainly applies to this case.
Other things to consider as the dental patient ages, medications need to be evaluated if an extraction is necessary as well as an expected longer healing time. Dental professionals give recommendations based on overall oral health. Are you seriously going to floss those wisdom teeth? It's difficult to have flossing compliance for the teeth the patient can reach. That's why wisdom teeth are often a reservoir of bacteria that infect the rest of the mouth. Removing the wisdom teeth is beneficial in helping to prevent decay and periodontal disease. If you have any questions regarding your overall dental health, contact your dentist.
Health-bite: Removal of wisdom teeth can prevent future oral disease.