You have dry mouth when your salivary glands are not producing enough saliva. Not only is saliva necessary for proper digestion, but it also prevents gum disease, tooth decay, and all types of oral infections.

Without enough saliva, your mouth can become a breeding ground for fungi and bacteria, so making sure you have enough is crucial.

Dry mouth, if left untreated, can lead to more serious issues, including problems with your teeth and gums, digestive disorders, and difficulty chewing, swallowing, or speaking. The most common signs of dry mouth are a sticky feeling in your mouth and throat, changes in the way your food tastes, and saliva that feels very thick or stringy.

Other signs to watch for with dry mouth include tooth decay, swollen or receding gums, bad breath, a sore throat, grooves in your tongue, or a burning sensation in your mouth. If you wear dentures, dry mouth can cause problems with those, and you can also develop canker sores or other open wounds in your mouth. So, if you have any of these, the chances are high that dry mouth may be contributing to your problems.

What causes dry mouth? There are many causes, some of which you can control. The most likely causes include medications, like those for allergies, congestion, high blood pressure, or depression. The elderly are more likely to have dry mouth due to medical disorders, medications, or inadequate nutrition.

If you have nerve damage, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, HIV/AIDS, or are undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy, you are more likely to suffer from dry mouth, too.

A simple infection called oral thrush, which is the result of a fungus, can cause temporary dry mouth symptoms. Smoking, drinking alcohol and taking recreational drugs also contribute to this oral disorder.

Essential Oils for Treating Dry Mouth

Several essential oils can stimulate the production of saliva and help relieve your dry mouth. In cases where dry mouth has led to tooth decay, gum disease, or other problems, you can even use essential oil to help clear the bacteria that are causing these problems. The following are the best essential oils for promoting saliva production and helping your dry mouth.

Peppermint Essential Oil 

The compounds found in peppermint oil stimulate your salivary glands, resulting in an increase in saliva in your mouth. Dab a few drops of this essential oil onto your tongue, then use that muscle to spread the oil throughout your mouth. Perform this routine before every meal for at least one week to monitor the effects on your dry mouth. 

Spearmint Essential Oil 

There is a reason that spearmint is a popular ingredient in toothpaste and other oral care products. Not only does it stimulate the production of saliva, but spearmint also helps alleviate the bad breath associated with dry mouth as well as kill the bacteria that have likely grown in your mouth because you lack sufficient moisture.

To use this treatment, add one to two drops of spearmint essential oil to your toothbrush, then gently rub the brush across all parts of your mouth. Repeat before every meal.

Other Essential Oils & Oral Health 

Clove, eucalyptus, and Scots pine are also effective at treating dry mouth. Always read labels to ensure your products are safe to be used in the mouth or ingested. For those that are dealing with a toothache, tea tree oil can be an effective natural remedy. Essential oils have also been used to help those that struggle with hiccups and teeth grinding.