@westcottkm3040 I’ve been using it . My dentist said there is nothing to get rid of dry mouth ( aka xerostomia), but it will help the symptoms . I’m just concerned of long term effects on my gums & teeth.
@cholash I use to wake up with a burning sensation on my tongue and dry mouth as well. Not sure if it was due to my, then not now, sleeping on my back. I was told/learned that I slept and breathed through my mouth at night while sleeping on my back. I changed the way I sleep.' I have done three things since then.
1. Sleep on the wedge pillow on my left side and
2. I use a small piece of 3M Nexcare tape to keep my mouth closed at night.
3. I stick mostly to the acid reflux diet just to error on the side of caution. NJH said, after testing me for acid reflux, I don't have it.
I no longer have dry mouth or the burning sensation on my tongue. I think the burning may have been to acid, I don't know that for sure but to me it sounds and felt like it could have been acid coming up at night.
This was my experience, don't know if it might help you but thought I'd mention it.
Also, are you able to ......and do you do any type of percussion or postural drainage.
I find that if I have been keeping myself hydrated and do all other aspects needed to clear the mucus I can get just as much mucus up without doing the saline.
So I am trying to do one day of saline and one day without. On both days , with and without the saline, I do all other necessary parts of our BE routine for clearing the mucus.
For me that means..... light exercise first thing, then sipping warm filtered water before the saline, or the day without the saline, and then for both days ....percussion on my front and back at the lung areas, postural drainage, autogenic air way clearance, and huff coughing. I do several sessions, or call them sets, of the four things mentioned.
Hope this may give you some worthwhile information....and maybe something to discuss with the doctor's since the doctors(s) know you and your medical circumstances.
Barbara
My dry mouth is only when I sleep, and it's been going on for a few years now - I'm fine during waking hours. This resulted in the first dental cavities in 25 years. I tried Biotene but it didn't help during sleep. While sleeping, whatever mechanism that keeps saliva in my mouth is turned off, causing me to wake frequently feeling absolutely parched. Thankfully, I discovered Xilimelt lozenges (you tuck one up at the top of the gums) and I can get about 5-6 hours of solid sleep before waking up with cotton mouth. I drink plenty of fluid during the day, including Mullein tea, which thins the mucus (therefore is probably using up available H20 in the body). A year ago, I gave up coffee and soda, except for a daily can of sparkling water. I restrict sodium. I don't take any prescription medications, so it's either age or the mullein tea that is doing this - I never had dry mouth while sleeping before 70 yrs of age. The mullein tea works better at thinning mucus than nebulizing saline for me, so I'm not giving it up.
I've had dry mouth issues for some time, possibly due to hypothyroidism and, ahem, advancing age, but exacerbated, I believe, by clofazimine. Here are some things that have helped me:
The dry mouth/fluoride mouthwash by ACT used at night seems to have improved both comfort and gums (per the depth checks done routinely by my hygienist).
Biotene mouth spray if I wake up at night with dry mouth.
ACT dry mouth lozenges during my morning run. (Breathing hard through the mouth is a sure way to increase dry mouth!) These really help a lot.
Making sure I stop my neb before it runs completely out of the aerosol mist. Blowing dry air into my mouth is a pretty quick way to get dry mouth!
Use of chapstick, saline nose spray, and artificial tears as needed. (Not directly related to dry mouth, but xerostomia-adjacent, if you will.)
HTH
Have you tried any of the OTC products for dry mouth? I haven’t personally used them, but a woman in my old book club had Sjogren’s (autoimmune causing dry mouth, eyes, etc) and used one.
I do have a dry mouth, but it’s more likely due to large dose antihistamines for another issue. I sip most of day, chew sugar free gum, etc. I know it’s frowned upon, but I sip hot water (in winter) while I neb.
I really am a believer in benefits of the hypertonic saline. I know it’s just anecdotal and may be coincidence, but it sure seems to keep me from picking up all my grands’ bugs, which was big issue before I started it.
@pacathy
Try Ricola sugar free lemon drops during the day and Xylimelt slightly sweet tabs that attach to your teeth with saliva. Both really help alleviate dry mouth.
It’s my problem too which I deal with
- biotene mouth wash rinse before bed
- made at my dentists office upper and lower retainers which I put on my teeth for the night. This helps me sleep with closed mouth and seems to work better than taping
There is a brand called Carifree that my dentist says has the correct ph for dry mouth rather than Biotene which she says does not. She also prescribed Pilocarpene for dry mouth. Info says this drug can increase mucus production (NOT needed here!) so I refused that one.
It’s my problem too which I deal with
- biotene mouth wash rinse before bed
- made at my dentists office upper and lower retainers which I put on my teeth for the night. This helps me sleep with closed mouth and seems to work better than taping
@lilianna Regarding 'upper and lower retainers". Are they solid plated. I can't figure out in my mind how the retainers would help keep our mouth closed while we sleep???? Glad they do.
I think I would rather that than the tape.
Barbara
@lilianna Regarding 'upper and lower retainers". Are they solid plated. I can't figure out in my mind how the retainers would help keep our mouth closed while we sleep???? Glad they do.
I think I would rather that than the tape.
Barbara
@blm1007blm1007 Here is the device I use. It goes over upper and lower teeth, with a hinge at the back, and you use rubber bands like on dental braces, to hold the device closed. It is done by a special dentist (mine usually treats TMJ, but is trained on this device as well) to treat mild to moderate sleep apnea without a CPAP machine.
I use the one on the left, with interchangeable hinges. It only took me about two weeks to adjust to it. You need to be evaluated first for sleep apnea, but then it is covered by Medicare Part B as durable medical equipment. With my supplement, my copay was $0. The hardest part was getting scheduled with a dentist who accepted Medicare - I finally got seen through my large multi-disciplinary practice, but it took a few months to get in. Dry mouth is in my rear-view mirror now! What a joy.
No mine are just two separate, upper and lower but somehow they help me. They look like night guards but made of softer material- some clear plastic. Sue it’s good to know that more effective device is available. I did not even know that sleep apnea can be dealt this way. So far I was not evaluated for sleep apnea.
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@cholash I use to wake up with a burning sensation on my tongue and dry mouth as well. Not sure if it was due to my, then not now, sleeping on my back. I was told/learned that I slept and breathed through my mouth at night while sleeping on my back. I changed the way I sleep.' I have done three things since then.
1. Sleep on the wedge pillow on my left side and
2. I use a small piece of 3M Nexcare tape to keep my mouth closed at night.
3. I stick mostly to the acid reflux diet just to error on the side of caution. NJH said, after testing me for acid reflux, I don't have it.
I no longer have dry mouth or the burning sensation on my tongue. I think the burning may have been to acid, I don't know that for sure but to me it sounds and felt like it could have been acid coming up at night.
This was my experience, don't know if it might help you but thought I'd mention it.
Also, are you able to ......and do you do any type of percussion or postural drainage.
I find that if I have been keeping myself hydrated and do all other aspects needed to clear the mucus I can get just as much mucus up without doing the saline.
So I am trying to do one day of saline and one day without. On both days , with and without the saline, I do all other necessary parts of our BE routine for clearing the mucus.
For me that means..... light exercise first thing, then sipping warm filtered water before the saline, or the day without the saline, and then for both days ....percussion on my front and back at the lung areas, postural drainage, autogenic air way clearance, and huff coughing. I do several sessions, or call them sets, of the four things mentioned.
Hope this may give you some worthwhile information....and maybe something to discuss with the doctor's since the doctors(s) know you and your medical circumstances.
Barbara
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Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsMy dry mouth is only when I sleep, and it's been going on for a few years now - I'm fine during waking hours. This resulted in the first dental cavities in 25 years. I tried Biotene but it didn't help during sleep. While sleeping, whatever mechanism that keeps saliva in my mouth is turned off, causing me to wake frequently feeling absolutely parched. Thankfully, I discovered Xilimelt lozenges (you tuck one up at the top of the gums) and I can get about 5-6 hours of solid sleep before waking up with cotton mouth. I drink plenty of fluid during the day, including Mullein tea, which thins the mucus (therefore is probably using up available H20 in the body). A year ago, I gave up coffee and soda, except for a daily can of sparkling water. I restrict sodium. I don't take any prescription medications, so it's either age or the mullein tea that is doing this - I never had dry mouth while sleeping before 70 yrs of age. The mullein tea works better at thinning mucus than nebulizing saline for me, so I'm not giving it up.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsI get dry mouth at night, I use mouth tape. Also Biotene if it gets bad.
I've had dry mouth issues for some time, possibly due to hypothyroidism and, ahem, advancing age, but exacerbated, I believe, by clofazimine. Here are some things that have helped me:
The dry mouth/fluoride mouthwash by ACT used at night seems to have improved both comfort and gums (per the depth checks done routinely by my hygienist).
Biotene mouth spray if I wake up at night with dry mouth.
ACT dry mouth lozenges during my morning run. (Breathing hard through the mouth is a sure way to increase dry mouth!) These really help a lot.
Making sure I stop my neb before it runs completely out of the aerosol mist. Blowing dry air into my mouth is a pretty quick way to get dry mouth!
Use of chapstick, saline nose spray, and artificial tears as needed. (Not directly related to dry mouth, but xerostomia-adjacent, if you will.)
HTH
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 Reactions@pacathy
Try Ricola sugar free lemon drops during the day and Xylimelt slightly sweet tabs that attach to your teeth with saliva. Both really help alleviate dry mouth.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionIt’s my problem too which I deal with
- biotene mouth wash rinse before bed
- made at my dentists office upper and lower retainers which I put on my teeth for the night. This helps me sleep with closed mouth and seems to work better than taping
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionThere is a brand called Carifree that my dentist says has the correct ph for dry mouth rather than Biotene which she says does not. She also prescribed Pilocarpene for dry mouth. Info says this drug can increase mucus production (NOT needed here!) so I refused that one.
@lilianna Regarding 'upper and lower retainers". Are they solid plated. I can't figure out in my mind how the retainers would help keep our mouth closed while we sleep???? Glad they do.
I think I would rather that than the tape.
Barbara
@blm1007blm1007 Here is the device I use. It goes over upper and lower teeth, with a hinge at the back, and you use rubber bands like on dental braces, to hold the device closed. It is done by a special dentist (mine usually treats TMJ, but is trained on this device as well) to treat mild to moderate sleep apnea without a CPAP machine.
I use the one on the left, with interchangeable hinges. It only took me about two weeks to adjust to it. You need to be evaluated first for sleep apnea, but then it is covered by Medicare Part B as durable medical equipment. With my supplement, my copay was $0. The hardest part was getting scheduled with a dentist who accepted Medicare - I finally got seen through my large multi-disciplinary practice, but it took a few months to get in. Dry mouth is in my rear-view mirror now! What a joy.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsNo mine are just two separate, upper and lower but somehow they help me. They look like night guards but made of softer material- some clear plastic. Sue it’s good to know that more effective device is available. I did not even know that sleep apnea can be dealt this way. So far I was not evaluated for sleep apnea.