If you’re a coffee drinker, then you know that coffee can cause dry mouth. It may seem like it’s wetting the whistle, but coffee mouth after consumption is no fun at all. Dry mouth sets in, and it can really make your mouth and teeth feel extra dirty. There is no saliva, bacteria is allowed to grow, and you feel like you have a film over the entire inside of your mouth.

Coffee doesn’t do this every time if a person is drinking plenty of water in between or has eaten something perhaps. Coffee affects you differently during certain times, but there is no doubt that it can cause you to have dry mouth symptoms. So how do you get rid of these symptoms?

First, understand that caffeine is part of the culprit here. Yes, too much caffeine can make you have dry mouth. Remember that it’s not just the coffee. The coffee doesn’t help, but drinking too many sodas instead of water can also leave you not only with dry mouth but dehydration symptoms in general. People dismiss dehydration, but those symptoms can be serious if a person becomes too dehydrated.

What does dry mouth lead to? Well, it can cause the development of cavities, and it can cause you to have extremely bad breath. Gum disease can set in, and yeast infections can also develop. There are a multitude of problems that can transpire if you have dry mouth, especially if this is a chronic condition that we’re talking about.

If you’re running around the office drinking coffee, not water and it’s not lunch time, you need some gum. Gum or hard candy can help keep your mouth hydrated at least. It goes without saying that you need to find a water fountain or a water bottle. Smoking is of course only going to make things worse, so a coffee-drinking smoker, which is what I am, can really take its toll.

Remember that smoking and coffee drinking also contribute to poor dental health in various ways. What I like to do is use mouthwash awhile after I drink a cup of coffee. I can do that quite easily because I work from home. I can also brush my teeth whenever I want, and not everyone has that luxury.

It’s a good idea to brush after each meal and even brush after you’ve had coffee. What I do is wait until I’ve had breakfast and coffee or whatever is going on that morning for me. Then I simply brush again or use mouthwash. Considering I’m limited on time, I usually just use mouthwash. It would be important to then drink some water because the mouthwash only cleans out your mouth. It doesn’t hydrate your mouth one bit.

Did you know that a humidifier at home can help you hydrate your mouth? Think about keeping your food moist, which tastes much better than dry food anyway. Don’t allow coffee or anything else for that matter to dry out your mouth. Take notice of what’s happening and take action.