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Dry Mouth Treatment Tips: Chewing Gum

Dry mouth syndrome happens when your mouth stops producing enough saliva. This condition can happen for various reasons. For example, it can be a side effect of a medication, caused by smoking or linked to a condition such as diabetes; it may also be a symptom of the menopause.

Having a persistently dry mouth can be uncomfortable and painful. A lack of saliva in the mouth can also lead to problems with your teeth and gums. Saliva plays an important role in your oral health, helping control the bacteria in your mouth and the acids from the food you eat. If you don't have enough saliva, it's a good idea to try to increase its flow. This makes your mouth feel better and helps avoid dental problems. Chewing gum can be one way of doing this.

Chewing Gum and Saliva

When you chew gum, your mouth creates extra saliva. This can help alleviate the symptoms of dry mouth syndrome in the short term and may also have long-term benefits. According to ABC Health and Wellbeing, the effects of gum chewing on saliva production may keep on working even when you've stopped chewing a piece of gum. It may increase the size of your saliva cells and make them work more effectively.

Some Gums Are Better Than Others

While any gum can help your mouth produce more saliva, not every gum is good for your oral health. It's important to chew a sugar free gum rather than regular gum. Regular gum will help your dry mouth but it also introduces harmful sugars on to your teeth which may increase the risk of tooth decay. Sugar free products promote saliva flow and also help protect your teeth.

Tip: According to CHOICE, the Australian Dental Association awards a seal of approval to sugar free gums that it considers to be safe to use. Look for the seal on gum packs; if you're still unsure which gum to chew, ask your dentist for advice.

Alternatives to Chewing Gum

Some people simply don't feel comfortable chewing gum; others may find it doesn't work for them. For example, if you have existing problems with your teeth, gums or jaw, the action of chewing may hurt and your dentist may advise you to find a different way to increase your saliva flow. For example, you could also try the following options:

• Toothpastes and mouthwashes that are designed to help you cope with dry mouth syndrome.
• Artificial saliva or mouth gels.
• Sugar-free hard sweets that you can suck rather than chew.

Tip: If your dry mouth syndrome is a side effect of a medication you're taking, talk to your doctor to see if there are other options you could switch to that might not have this side effect.