REMEDIES FOR DRY MOUTH AND BURNING/ SORE TONGUE

What Can Cause Dry Mouth And Burning/ Sore Tongue In Perimenopause And Menopause?

Like most things menopausal dry mouth and burning/ sore tongue can be a side effect of fluctuating or lowered hormone levels.

Lower levels of oestrogen reduce the moisture in the mucous membranes leading to a dry mouth. Put simply the mouth dries out because the salivary glands don’t produce enough saliva to keep it moist. The same lowered oestrogen levels can also cause a burning or sore tongue.

Having a dry, burning or sore mouth is unpleasant to say the least, and can make speaking, eating and swallowing more difficult. It’s likely to make you self conscious about your breath too. Many of the women who get a dry mouth also experience dry, tired eyes as well due to the loss of oestrogen.

We Can All Get A Dry Mouth Sometimes

Have you ever been in a stressful situation and found it difficult to speak because your mouth has dried out? I’m sure this has happened to most of us and probably more than once. The cause for this was a rise in the stress hormone cortisol which unfortunately can dry up your saliva just when you need to deliver that speech or presentation.

For some women the drop in oestrogen during perimenopause and menopause means salivary cortisol rises. This can lead to dryness and even a burning/ sore sensation in your mouth even when you’re not in a stressful situation.

What Problems Can A Dry Mouth Or Burning/ Sore Tongue Cause?

When we eat, the salivary glands produce moisture in the form of saliva. This makes your mouth and the food in it moist so it’s easier to chew and swallow. If you suffer with a dry mouth it might be tempting to eat more in an effort to keep your mouth from drying out. But it won’t do your waistline any favours. And depending on what you’re eating it won’t be good for your overall health either.

Not only can a dry mouth, burning/ sore tongue make your life uncomfortable it can also cause oral health problems too.

A persistently dry mouth can cause a build of bacteria leading to infections and tooth decay. It’s important to brush your teeth regularly. This will help to prevent bacterial build up. Ask your dentist for advice about toothpaste or mouthwash that will help with ‘dry mouth’. And remember that regular check-ups with your dentist are important not just for your teeth but for overall oral health.

Simple Remedies To Help Ease Dry Mouth And Burning/ Sore Tongue

There are lots of things you can do yourself to ease your dry mouth and burning or sore tongue. To keep things nice and simple I’ve listed these below in the form of some DO’S and DON’TS.

DO

• Do keep Hydrated, drink plenty of water. Water is important for all your bodily functions and good hydration is an important aspect of your body’s ability to produce the saliva your mouth needs.

• Do sip water when you are eating a meal, particularly if it’s a food that can be drying such as crackers, crusty bread, crisps (potato chips) or spicy foods. You need more saliva to make these easy to chew and swallow so give your saliva glands a little help with regular sips of water.

• Do use a gentle toothpaste and a alcohol-free mouthwash. You can buy ones specifically designed for dry mouth. These are also beneficial if you suffer with burning or sore tongue.

• Do chew sugar-free gum or suck sugar-free sweets (candies) when you’re out and about. Both help to stimulate the flow of saliva in your mouth and help to ease dryness and soreness by keeping your mouth moist. They’re ideal to have with you for times when you don’t have any water to hand and also as a general mouth ‘moistener’. Make sure they’re sugar-free though or they will be bad for your teeth and your waistline!

• Do speak to your doctor, dentist or pharmacist for advice about saliva replacement products particularly if you’re finding your dry mouth difficult to deal with. Depending on where you live you may be able to buy these products over the counter without prescription.

DON’T

• Don’t let yourself dehydrate. A good level of hydration is beneficial to your overall wellbeing as well as your ability to produce saliva.

• Don’t use toothpastes that contain hot mints or cinnamon as they can be harsh on your burning/ sore tongue and can also have a drying effect in your mouth. And don’t use a mouthwash that contains alcohol as this can also have a drying effect.

• Don’t have lots of sugary or acidic foods or drinks. Even fresh fruit juice and fresh tomatoes can aggravate a dry or sore mouth despite their health benefits. Eat healthy but low acidic foods and avoid carbonated and acidic drinks. Sugary, carbonated and acidic food and drinks are bad for your teeth and oral health in general, so keep them to a minimum.

• Don’t eat lots of spicy foods. Keep them to a minimum or for a special ocassion. I know that this can be disheartening if you love spicy stuff. But if you’re suffering with a dry or sore mouth it will really make things worse. When you do treat yourself to something a bit spicy make sure you have some water at the ready. Take regular sips to help your saliva glands out.

• Don’t overindulge in caffeine drinks such as coffee and keep your alcohol consumption in check. Both alcohol and caffeine can have a drying effect making your mouth feel even worse. Cut them out if you can or at least keep them to a minimum.

• Don’t smoke. Yes,I know that’s easier said than done and I’m not judging you if you do, honestly. I just want to point out that tobacco products can dry your mouth and add to the soreness as well as being bad for your oral health. If you’re not ready to quit, or you don’t want to, try cutting down as much as possible to help your dry or sore mouth.

Take a look at my other articles for information and some Tips and Tricks for easing other perimenopause and menopause symptoms.

N.B See your doctor if the dryness, soreness or burning is particularly troublesome or persistent. These can be a symptom of an underlying health problem. It can also be caused by some prescribed medications so you will need to discuss this with your doctor. It’s also possible that your doctor can prescribe something to help to ease your dry, burning or sore mouth.

Don’t forget that you can also consult your dentist for help and advice. Dentists don’t just deal with your teeth, they are concerned with your overall oral health too.