Dry Mouth and Thick Saliva

If you are having trouble eating because you have a dry mouth or thick saliva, talk to your doctor or nurse. There are some medications that can help treat a dry mouth. And if you have questions, be sure to talk to your medical care team about nutrition changes you would like to make. 

Nutrition Tips for Dry Mouth and Thick Saliva 

• A dry mouth can cause cavities and mouth infections. Make sure you have regular dental care before, during, and after your treatment for cancer. Your health care team can help you get the dental care you need.
• Keep your mouth clean by rinsing after each meal and snack. Brush your teeth according to the directions given to you by your doctor or nurse.
• Drink 8 to 12 cups of caffeine-free liquids each day. Drinking plenty of fluid can help loosen mucus.
• For thick saliva, try sipping 100% pure, papaya juice. Papaya contains natural substances that will help thin out your saliva.
• Keep a water bottle with you at all times, especially when you leave home. Sip this all day long.
• If helpful, use a straw to drink liquid.
• When eating, take very small bites and chew food completely.
• Eat soft, moist foods that are cool or room temperature, for example canned fruit, yogurt or pudding.
• Soften food such as bread or potatoes with milk.
• Use a blender to mash or blend fruits and vegetables.
• Try soft cooked chicken and fish; thinned cereals, such as oatmeal made with plenty of water or milk; popsicles, shakes, smoothies, and slushies; and warm soups and stews.
• Avoid very hot foods, but make sure your foods are cooked fully. Cool your hot foods to a warm temperature before eating.
• Try casseroles that contain a lot of liquid, such as those made with soup.
• Add broth, sauces, gravy, or soup to soften and moisten foods.
• Use yogurt, juice, or jelly to make foods go down a dry throat easier.
• Sip warm, caffeine-free tea.
• Instead of butter or margarine, try using a little olive oil, canola oil, avocado oil, or almond oil to make foods slippery and easier to swallow.
• Try sucking on frozen fruit. Frozen grapes, wedges of cantaloupe, peach slices, and watermelon work well.
• Try sucking on ice chips. Do NOT chew ice - this can damage your teeth.
• Try fruit that contains a lot of water such as watermelon, peaches, and nectarines.
• Ask your pharmacist about gums, saliva substitutes, mouth moisturizers and other products made especially for a dry mouth. Examples of these products include saliva stimulators such as Salagen® (pilocarpine hydrochloride); saliva replacers such as Xero-Lube®, Salivart®, Mouth Kote®, Moi-Stir®, Orex®, Salix, Optimoist®, Sage Moist Plus® spray, and Gelclair®; and mouth moisturizers such as Oral Balance® and Sage Mouth Moisturizer®.

Avoid the following foods or products, which can make a dry mouth worse :

• Foods and drinks that contain caffeine such as coffee, colas, and chocolate.
• Alcoholic beverages including beer, wine, and mixed drinks.
• Dry foods including tough meats, raw vegetables, breads, pretzels, rice, chips, muffins, and cakes.
• Commercial mouthwashes. These contain alcohol which will dry the mouth further.

Call Your Medical Care Team If... 

• You have a severely dry mouth for more than 3 days.
• Your lips are dry, cracked, or bleeding.
• You have mouth sores that are preventing you from eating or that won't heal.
• You notice white patches in your mouth. This may be an infection that requires medication.
• You have difficulty breathing due to dry mouth or throat.