Xerostamia, known by most as dry mouth, has a number of causes.  Our mouths tend to become somewhat drier as we age and salivary output decreases. Treatments for medical conditions such as chemotherapy and radiation cause dry mouth as a side effect, as do certain medications and problems in the immune system.

Keeping your mouth moist is important to your dental health an your overall health as well. It's important to dental health because saliva helps to clear bacteria and small food particles from your mouth. It's important to overall health because having too little saliva can contribute to heartburn and constipation as well as being just plain uncomfortable.

However, even when caused by factors mentioned above, there is a good deal you can do to control xerostamia at home. The first and most important thing is to drink enough water. When salivary gland output is adversely affected, you need to replace the lost moisture from somewhere, and the best source is clear water. Taking small sips of water throughout the day will help to make a dry mouth more moist and comfortable.

Another option is to take at least part of that water in the form of green tea, which studies have shown may have considerable benefit to both dental and overall health because its antioxiants fight free radicals. Also, green tea has little or no acid, and acid is a major contributor to dry mouth, tooth cavities and other dental problems.

Whether you choose plain water or green tea, brushing, flossing and rinsing your mouth with water after eating is the best way to control xerostamia and prevent cavities.