The 3 Foods to Avoid That Make Dry Mouth Worse
When you have xerostomia, commonly known as chronic dry mouth, the last thing you want is to eat or drink anything that makes it even more difficult to deal with. If you’re making a serious effort to manage your dry mouth symptoms, it’s a good idea to avoid these three types of foods that make dry mouth worse.
Bread and Crackers
While soft bread for your sandwich may be easy enough to chew and swallow, loaves of hard and crusty bread varieties are known for being particularly difficult for dry mouth sufferers to manage. While substituting softer bread is always a good strategy, using gravy or sauce to soften hard breads before trying to chew them can help a great deal.
Crackers, chips and other dry foods are problematic for a number of reasons. When your mouth lacks the natural lubrication that saliva provides, you may find that the rough edges of these popular snack foods can cut the inside of your mouth and irritate your tongue. Certain types of crackers are also known for making normal mouths go dry, so trying to chew and swallow these crackers when you already lack adequate saliva can be both painful and unpleasant. The addition of dip could make crackers and chips more enjoyable.
Salty and Spicy
People with severe dry mouth are likely to quickly discover an issue when eating salty, spicy or acidic foods. Again, it’s from a lack of lubrication inside the mouth and throat. If one of your dry mouth symptoms is sores or ulcers on the inside of your mouth or on your tongue, trying to eat any of these foods could create a painful experience. At least during the times when your dry mouth symptoms are at their worst, it’s best to avoid these foods altogether.
Sugary Foods and Drinks
As you know, digestion doesn’t start in your stomach; it starts in the mouth with the help of saliva. When you don’t have enough saliva in your mouth to properly break down sugar, it can impact your digestion and potentially lead to tooth decay since the sugars will have more time to spend against your tooth enamel. If you must eat something sugary, consider brushing your teeth immediately afterwards. For sugary beverages, it’s best to drink them with a straw to minimize contact with your teeth and gums, then rinse out your mouth with water once you’ve finished your drink.
This article is not intended as medical advice. Be sure to consult your dentist or doctor before making any health decisions.