Dry mouth is uncomfortable, but an even bigger concern is its impact on your oral health. All day long, saliva works to dilute and wash away food, bacteria, and dead cells from your mouth. In a dry mouth, this process doesn’t work as efficiently and the bacteria that causes gum disease and tooth decay can proliferate. Many of the medications patients take to stay healthy as they get older have the unfortunate side effect of causing dry mouth. It’s not usually an option to stop these medications, so the best solution is to stay well-hydrated by drinking throughout the day. Skip juice and soda, which are high in sugar, and coffee and tea, which can stain your teeth and cause you to become dehydrated because of their caffeine content. Instead, stick with plain water. When you can’t bring a bottle of water with you, a sugar-free lozenge or gum can help stimulate saliva production.