Sugar and Dry Mouth: A Complex Connection
Most of us know about the dangers of eating too much sugar: increased risk of cavities, diabetes, weight gain, etc. But one lesser-known side effect of sugar is dry mouth. Dry mouth, a condition where the salivary glands don’t produce enough saliva, might not sound like such a big deal, but it can have a serious impact on oral health and quality of life. For this reason, most oral health specialists recommend avoiding sugary products in addition to clinical treatment via the SaliPen or medication.
While we might intuitively understand why eating too much sugar can cause cavities and weight gain, sugar’s relationship with dry mouth is not necessarily clear. In this blog post, we’ll discuss why sugar impacts oral health, how it exacerbates dry mouth symptoms, and sugar avoidance as part of a comprehensive dry mouth treatment plan.
Understanding the Significance of Dry Mouth
Before we jump into the relationship between sugar and dry mouth, let’s first understand what dry mouth is. Dry mouth, or xerostomia, might sound like a simple case of increased thirst, but in fact, it, but it’s a serious medical condition that affects roughly 20% of the global population.
When the salivary glands don’t produce enough saliva, a host of oral and general health complications ensue, including:
- Rampant tooth decay, gum disease, and oral infections
- Difficulty chewing, swallowing, and talking
- Frequent nighttime sleep disruptions
- Change in taste
- Bad breath
- Persistent thirst
There are several reasons the salivary glands may stop functioning properly. The most common ones are:
- Sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disease that affects moisture-producing glands
- Radiation treatment for cancer in the head and neck regions
- Various prescription medications that lead to dry mouth as a side effect
In addition to clinical causes, several lifestyle habits can exacerbate dry mouth symptoms, including breathing through the mouth (instead of the nose), not drinking enough water, and eating too many sugary foods.
The Relationship Between Sugar and Dry Mouth
Sugar, ubiquitous in processed food and even so-called “healthy” snacks, plays a significant role in oral health, particularly for those with xerostomia. While sugar doesn’t directly cause dry mouth, it can exacerbate symptoms and increase the difficulty of mundane daily tasks such as eating and talking.
There are several ways sugar is particularly harmful to those who suffer from dry mouth:
- Excessive sugar intake decreases the mouth’s normal balance of bacteria, increasing the risk of cavities, gum disease, and oral infections. As dry mouth innately increases the risk of the same oral health problems, eating sugary foods compounds the problem.
- Sticky foods like caramel, gummies, and dried fruits cling to teeth and gums, prolonging sugar exposure. People with dry mouth don’t have adequate saliva to wash away these residues, causing sugar to do more damage than usual.
- Sugary drinks and snacks consumed in excess can lead to dehydration — and dry mouth does the same. When someone with dry mouth eats too much sugar, the risk of dehydration increases.
- Saliva, which naturally neutralizes acids produced by sugar consumption, is lacking in those with xerostomia, making it harder to manage sugar’s effects.
- Continually high blood sugar in people with diabetes can damage nerves that control the salivary glands, making it even more difficult for them to produce adequate saliva.
Smarter Sugar Choices for Dry Mouth Sufferers
While cutting out sugar entirely may be challenging, making mindful choices can help manage dry mouth symptoms. Here are some tips to enjoy sweets while minimizing xerostomia’s impact:
- Limit sugar intake: Instead of snacking on sweets throughout the day, consume them in one sitting and follow up with good oral hygiene to minimize sugar’s impact.
- Opt for less sticky sweets: Not all sweets are created equal. Chocolate or other sweets that melt quickly reduce the time sugar lingers in the mouth compared to sticky candies.
- Choose sugar-free alternatives: Sugar-free candies or chewing gum offer dual benefits: they stimulate saliva flow, offering natural dry mouth relief, and they can act as a replacement for sweets cravings. Products sweetened with xylitol are especially beneficial, as xylitol encourages saliva production and inhibits bacterial growth.
- Stay hydrated: Staying hydrated is a golden rule of overall health. When it comes to dry mouth in particular, pairing water with sugary snacks can help rinse away sugary residue, reducing some of the nasty side effects of sugar stuck in the mouth.
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The Best Xerostomia Remedies
Reducing sugar intake is an important component of a comprehensive dry mouth treatment plan. However, cutting out sugar without seeking further intervention is NOT likely to alleviate xerostomia symptoms. This is where clinical dry mouth treatments come into play.
The most effective dry mouth therapy options include:
- Intraoral electrostimulation: The SaliPen is a cutting-edge dry mouth treatment that delivers gentle electrical impulses to the oral cavity, stimulating salivary glands to produce more saliva naturally. The SaliPen is non-invasive, non-pharmacological, and reusable. It’s an excellent choice for those who want a long-term solution for dry mouth relief.
- Medications: Several medications on the market are effective at stimulating the salivary glands to produce more saliva. While typically effective, it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider to make sure these medications are not contraindicated for other medications you might be taking
- Saliva substitutes: Gels, sprays, gum and lozenges (sugar-free, of course) are all forms of saliva substitutes that offer temporary relief of dry mouth symptoms. They come in different strengths, either over-the-counter or prescription. These are often taken in conjunction with a dry mouth therapy that directly stimulates the salivary glands.
Three Habits to Increase the Efficacy of Dry Mouth Treatments
Drinking enough water and cutting down on sugar are important habits for anyone with dry mouth, for all the reasons discussed above. But there are more steps you can take if dry mouth plagues you during the night and day.
- Natural remedies for dry mouth at night: Dry mouth often gets worse at night, making it difficult to get an uninterrupted night of sleep. Using a humidifier at night is a natural, non-invasive way to add moisture to the air around you, making you sleep more comfortably.
- Abstinence from harmful substances: Nicotine, alcohol, and caffeine all exacerbate dry mouth symptoms. Nicotine is especially harmful for oral health, and cutting it out of your diet should result in noticeable symptom improvements.
- Good oral hygiene: Brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and using an alcohol-free mouthwash can protect teeth and gums, especially when your salivary glands aren’t producing enough saliva
A Holistic Approach to Dry Mouth Relief
While there’s no miracle cure for dry mouth, there are effective treatments and lifestyle habits that can make symptoms much more manageable. Many of the lifestyle habits, like drinking more water, proper oral hygiene, and cutting down on alcohol, nicotine, and sugar, aren’t only effective at improving dry mouth symptoms, but are likely to have far-reaching positive effects on your overall health. A win-win situation for everyone.
FAQs
How does sugar impact dry mouth symptoms?
Sugar promotes bacterial growth and acid production, which can lead to plaque, cavities, and gum irritation, especially when saliva flow is low. Sticky sugars linger longer, and high sugar intake may contribute to dehydration, exacerbating dry mouth symptoms.
Will cutting out sugar cure dry mouth?
No, it won’t cure dry mouth but it can alleviate dry mouth symptoms such as persistent thirst and bad breath, and it can reduce the risk of such cavities and oral infections.
Are other natural remedies enough to treat dry mouth?
No. While natural remedies and lifestyle changes are important as part of a comprehensive dry mouth treatment plan, without clinical intervention they are not enough to treat dry mouth symptoms. The most effective clinical dry mouth treatments include the SaliPen, medications, and saliva substitutes.
Where can I buy the SaliPen?
You can buy the SaliPen here.
