Day: July 12, 2017

Foods that make your dry mouth water

MGolenLeave a comment

Certain foods stimulate salivary gland’s function and as a result, increase salivation. They are called “sialogogue foods”. In contrast, other foods can cause dry mouth and worsen the problem.

If you suffer from xerostomia, it is important to know which foods improve or aggravate your dry mouth.

Here are several saliva stimulating foods that may surprise you.

They are not miracle foods, but their effects are noticeable, especially in cases of partial xerostomia when the salivary glands are still somewhat active.

1) Apple

An apple is one of the best foods for dry mouth. Slightly acidic, with high water content, apples stimulate the activity of the salivary glands and moisturize the mouth.

Chewing an apple increases salivation and cleans teeth and gums.

Drinking apple juice also stimulates saliva production.

Apple cider vinegar is also used in many home remedies for dry mouth. You can use this vinegar as a mouthwash; it freshens your breath and moisturizes your mouth. For this remedy, put a tablespoon of the vinegar in a glass of water and rinse your mouth several times.

As in the case of lemons, it is important to note that apples contain acid that may damage the tooth enamel. After eating an apple, it is recommended that you rinse your mouth with water or milk to balance the pH of the mouth.

2) Endive

The particular bitter taste of endive activates the functioning of the salivary glands, increasing the flow of saliva. Furthermore, this vegetable can be prepared in a thousand ways: you can eat it raw, baked, boiled, or seasoned in a salad.

3) Hard cheese

Did you know that the strong flavor of cured cheeses increases the flow of saliva?
In addition, cheese helps remineralize teeth because it contains calcium, phosphate, and casein, a milk protein that protects teeth against demineralization.

And if this is not enough, cheese also counteracts the acidity of saliva. If you have eaten carbohydrates which acidify the mouth, it can be a good idea to finish the meal with a piece of cheese.

4) Carrots, celery and other “chewable” foods

Did you know that foods requiring vigorous chewing also stimulate salivation?
Chewing raw carrots, celery, cucumber, or apple may help you produce more saliva.
In addition, these foods contain a lot of water (e.g. celery and cucumber are 95% water, carrots almost 90%) and help keep the mouth hydrated.

5) Citrus… with caution

Lemon, orange, grapefruit, kiwi, and generally all citrus increase the amount of saliva in the mouth by stimulating the activity of the salivary glands. However, on the negative side and as we have stated so many times before, these foods acidify the saliva and this may damage the tooth enamel which results in the development of cavities.

As we said at the beginning about eating apples, it is recommended that you drink a glass of milk or rinse your mouth with water to balance the pH of the mouth after eating citrus.

6) Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne pepper is a great remedy to improve dry mouth. It stimulates both the salivary glands and taste buds. It can be used in soups, pasta, stews, salads, and other dishes.

You can also put a little (very little!) amount of pepper on the tongue. This is not recommended for people who cannot stand the heat.

7) Spices

Certain spices are also very effective in stimulating the flow of saliva and improving dry mouth.

Ginger. Slowly chew a small piece of fresh ginger several times a day or drink ginger tea. These are the remedies I use most often, and they work the best for my dry mouth.

Fennel. Drinking fennel tea or chewing fennel seeds.

Cardamom. Like fennel, you can drink cardamom tea or chew a cardamon seed. Although chewing cardamom seeds actually increases salivation, it make my teeth hurt. I really dislike the rough woody texture of these seeds.

 

7 Foods That Improve Saliva Production

MGolenLeave a comment

Foods That Stimulate Saliva Production

Drinking eight to 10 cups of liquid every day when you have dry mouth is a common recommendation, and these beverages should ideally be sugar free since tooth decay and dry mouth go hand in hand. Water is the best choice, but sugar-free juices and hot tea are acceptable. When you are ready to try a natural way to improve saliva production through the foods that you eat and you have the OK from your dentist, the following foods and drinks can help stimulate saliva flow:

  1. Apples. Chewing apples, which have a high water content, can increase salivation by stimulating the activity of the salivary glands and moisturizing the mouth. Apple juice can also stimulate saliva production. Just remember that apples do contain acids that can damage tooth enamel, so be sure to rinse with water afterward to balance out the pH in your mouth.
  2. Apple cider vinegar. Many home remedies are buoyed by apple cider vinegar which can be used as a mouthwash, to freshen breath, and to moisturize the mouth. Put a tablespoon of the vinegar in a glass of water and rinse your mouth a few times to get the biggest benefit.
  3. Hard cheeses. Cheese offers multiple benefits for oral health. Cheese counteracts the acidity of saliva while the strong flavor of cured cheese can increase saliva flow. Cheese is also good for the remineralization of teeth thanks to ingredients like milk protein, phosphates, and, of course, calcium.
  4. Chewy vegetables. Veggies that must be crunched into and that require vigorous chewing – like raw carrots, celery, and cucumbers – aid in stimulating saliva production. These foods also have a high water content which helps hydrate the mouth.
  5. Citrus. Sour or tart citrus fruits like lemon, grapefruit, orange, cranberry, or kiwi can kick your salivary glands into action just thinking about them. But though these foods do make your mouth pucker and trigger a saliva release, they come with a high acid content which could damage tooth enamel – always rinse your teeth with milk or water after eating citrus to balance out the pH of your mouth.
  6. Spices. Certain spices work well to remedy dry mouth by stimulating the salivary glands as well as taste buds. You don’t have to eat the spices directly of course, but rather cook pasta, salads, soups, or other dishes with liberal applications of cayenne pepper, fennel, ginger, or cardamom.
  7. Endive. As a bitter-tasting vegetable, the endive can also activate salivary glands, but you don’t have to suffer with it raw and on its own. Season meals or savory desserts with endive for less of a punch but the same salivary effect.

It’s also important to know what foods aggravate dry mouth. These can include wine, coffee, soda, tea, salty nuts, dry crackers, sugary desserts, or popcorn. If you’re suffering with low saliva production, cut back on these foods and beverages for the time being.