Hi, I wonder if there is a close correlation between the weather and dry mouth. These days the humidity in Hong Kong is very low and I find my mouth extremely dry apart from developing cracked lips. Moreover I notice blood in the mucus I spit. Is this 'normal' and has anyone shared similar experience?

Karen, stage 4 tonsil cancer diagnosed in 9/2001

Karen, you are absolutely correct. I have found that a humidifier helps enormously and recommend that you try that for some relief.

Joanna

Hi Karen........Yes, there is a correlation between weather and dry mouth; anyway I think there is. Winters are extremely hard on my oral cavity. I am from Minnesota where the winters are long, cold, dark, snowy and DRY! When walking my dog I wear one of those white surgical masks because being a mouth breather my oral cavity just gets too dry. The mask seems to help even though it is ugly, but hey, a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do......
If I don't cover my mouth I end up with dozens of mouth sores and cracked,dry bleeding lips much like what you have described. As it is I use a lot of Carmex on my lips to prevent the chapping and that helps some. Sleeping at night is difficult for me and that is with a humidifer going in my bedroom. I still suffer from the dryness in the air. Winter can be an awfully long season. Water is the one and only thing that gives me any relief. I have tried every OTC capsule, throat loungzen, and even tried the Biotene gum to see if that would help. Nothing works except the water......if ever anybody finds anything on the market to help with the dry mouth be sure and share it with us. Sincerely, Donna

Hi Karen,

I too sleep with a hunidifier by my bed at night. And was just telling my husband yesterday how dry I was all day...duh!!! Big cold front and no humidity.

Try the humidifier - hopefully it will help you, too.

Take care,
Dinah

Thanks a lot for all your responses. I will certainly get a humidifier this weekend to see if it works for me. You know ever since I came across this website, I have been addicted to it. The first thing I do every morning when I arrive school is to switch on the computer and visit this website. Each time there is some new insight.Although I do not find anyone else from Hong Kong registered here, I am not at all lonely and it seems that I have made a lot of friends from various parts of the world. Brian has really done a very splendid job.

I moved from very dry (high altitude) Santa Fe, New Mexico to Laguna Beach for this very reason. The weather will dry out the tissues of your throat and mouth. When dry, microscopic cracks develop in these tissues and they can be the source of the blood you are describing. Also I find that the dryer the weather the more sensitive I am to spices in my foods. This is because those thousands of tiny little cracks in the soft tissues at the back of my throat hate it when a bit of lemon juice, OJ, or whatever hit them. Humid weather or a humidifier at night makes it all good again

I have thought of using a humidifier but have not tried it yet. My mouth was so dry every night that I could not sleep until I bought some Biotene Oral Gel. Now, I put a little bit on my tongue and it allows me to sleep. I usually get up a couple of times during the night and I use it again. It is at least good for a few hours.
After reading your posts I guess that I should no longer complain that I live in one of the most humid areas of the country.

Danny G.

I too sleep with humidfier on during the winter months. I even have one under my desk at the office that I use when things get too dry. This was recommended by radiologist to keep the membranes from drying out.

There was a marvelous spray product for dry mouth called OPTIMOIST which they stopped making around June of 2000. You can't buy it because it is expired, but some of you may find that your dentist has some in a drawer. It should still be good.

Eileen

When my xerostomia was at it's worst during the months right after treatment, I used my own concoction to keep my mouth from turning into the Sahara at night. I would mix USP glycerin with water and rinse with it, spitting it out afterwards into a cup by the bed. This put a little film of glycerin on my soft tissues that helped. Don't be drinking this concoction, it will give you the Mexican two step if you swallow too much of it. I don

My mother has found that certain of her other medicines, especially her high blood pressure medicines, add to her dry mouth. Her head and neck doctor and her general practitioner are discussing changing her medications, but meantime she has found relief at night with several of the over the counter products for dry mouth that the pharmacist has "behind the counter." All seem to be glycerin based washes or swabs. They aren't terribly expensive, but then you don't get much. I think Brian's idea of a homemade concoction is worth a try.