Solutions for Dry Mouth from CPAP

Dry Mouth is also known as xerostomia, (zeer-o-STOE-me-uh) which refers to a condition in
which the salivary glands in your mouth don’t make enough saliva to keep your mouth wet.

Dry mouth can be caused by a variety of reasons, including side effects from medications, PAP
use, etc.

Other symptoms include:

• Cracked lips
• Bad breath
• Sticky saliva
• Excessive mouth dryness in the morning

Causes can originate from:

• Medication
• Age
• Cancer Treatment
• Injury to neck and/or head
• Insufficient fluids in diet
• Post heavy exercise
• Snoring
• Sleeping with mouth open, etc.

Not sure how to tackle a dry mouth?

Here is a small list of the best recommendations we have found so far:

How to relieve your dry mouth:

• Add a pinch of Pink Himalayan¹ salt to plain water and sip it throughout the day or night, as needed.
• If you can, avoid irritants like alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine.
• During the day or a few minutes before sleep, chew on sugar-free gum or allow sugarfree candy to dissolve in your mouth and stimulate saliva flow. Be sure to not have gum or candy in your mouth during PAP use.
• Avoid salty and/or spicy food.
• Use your PAP humidifier with the heated tubing (if your PAP is outfitted with one) and a room humidifier. Call 1-844-823-0685 for assistance with your specific PAP device.
• Add leafy green vegetables to your diet to maximize water absorption in your body, mouth and throat, etc.²
• Try over the counter saliva substitutes, if indicated by your physician.
• Breathe through your nose, if possible, and not your mouth during the day and nighttime.
• Consider a chinstrap³ with PAP use. A chinstrap encourages the mouth to remain closed during sleep.
• Consider a Full Face Mask⁴ with your PAP device so your PAP humidifier4 can humidify your nose and mouth during sleep.

Mouth dryness can be alleviated with simple steps, especially when applied consistency.
Be sure to try as many tips as reasonably as you can.
We are dedicated to assisting you with useful tips to make your sleep the best it can be.

Complied, edited and written by
Bill Bistak, Crt, B Sc.
Clinical Specialist
Ontario Sleep Care

^{1 https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/5-benefits-of-starting-your-day-with-himalayan-salt-water-sole-water-1728441
2 https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/19-hydrating-foods
3 https://www.verywellhealth.com/should-i-use-a-chinstrap-with-my-cpap-3015266
4 https://store.remzzzs.com/blogs/articles/what-is-cpap-sore-throat-and-what-can-you-do-about-it}