Dry mouth products can wet palate, ease bad breath

Sure, a dry palate can be uncomfortable, but is it really a problem or, even more to the point, a medical condition? It certainly can be. A parched tongue and throat can lead to dental decay and bad breath, which is one reason why specialty dry mouth products are a vital part of any oral care routine.

Your saliva is a miracle of evolution. It might look like little more than water (hence the phrase "mouth-watering"), but this fluid is in fact an amazing mix of enzymes, proteins, electrolytes and bacteria-inhibiting compounds.

First and foremost, saliva exists to wet and slightly pre-digest the food you eat, preparing it for swallowing and digestion. However, the fluid also performs several other tasks:

- It slows the growth of microbes in your mouth. These bacteria contribute to tooth decay, halitosis and oral infections, so inhibiting them is definitely a good thing.

- Saliva also contains hormones that stimulate taste bud production.

- Likewise, this fluid lubricates the delicate tissues of your mouth, keeping them from drying out and cracking.

As you can see, it's no small responsibility that saliva has. This is why using dry mouth products can radically improve oral health and eliminate bad breath. Specialty mouth-wetting lozenges, for example, use all-natural ingredients to stimulate saliva production and cleanse the palate, all while neutralizing odors and washing away bacteria.

Specialty mouth rinses can do the same, although it's important to choose products that don't contain alcohol (which can dry out the tongue).

Finally, there is a plenitude of specialty gums and mints available online that can wet the mouth and reduce halitosis in minutes.