What can I do to end my dry mouth discomfort?

Q: What can I do to end my dry mouth discomfort? 

A: You might not think much about your saliva until it's in short supply. Dry mouth affects swallowing, taste, speech, dental health and your general comfort. Combat dry mouth by sipping water, sucking on ice chips, frozen grapes or ice pops, lemon drops, rinsing with a solution of salt and baking soda, using artificial saliva spray or taking medication to stimulate salivary flow. There's also a drug that's taken during radiation treatment that may protect you from dry mouth and mouth sores (Amifostine). Talk with your health care team about the most appropriate way to solve or minimize your problem.
--Bernice Crook, RN, OCN

If you're having difficulty swallowing, this recipe for High-Protein Gelatin can soothe and nourish.