Chronic dry mouth is a condition that affects approximately 40 percent of all Americans, but researchers haven’t been able to find a simple and affordable solution – until now. In a report published by online journal Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, and Oral Radiology, researchers from Georgia Regents University have shared their findings which indicate that green tea-based lozenges may be able to ameliorate dry mouth symptoms. When tested against a sugar placebo, the lozenge with green tea extract – called MighTeaFlow — stimulated saliva production by four times that produced by the placebo. According to researcher Stephen Hsu, green tea extracts appear to increase antioxidant activity and calm the autoantigens are released when an individual has an autoimmune disease which affects salivary glands.
Although this particular study has concluded, researchers at GRU have noted that further studies will allow for saliva glands to be examined more closely, since it is currently unknown if the lozenge just stimulates saliva production or actually restores function to the glands. Regardless of how long the effects last, it seems that this product may turn out to be a quick and affordable way for people to find relief. Chronic dry mouth can be a natural condition, but it is more prevalent among the elderly and has also been connected to certain prescription medications – especially ones taken as chemotherapy – as well as certain diseases like diabetes and Sjogren’s syndrome. Chronic dry mouth can make it difficult – if not impossible – to talk and eat. Additionally, the risk of tooth decay and infection increases significantly when an individual suffers from chronic dry mouth.
Industry experts often recommend staying hydrated so that the body has enough water to produce saliva, as well as keeping a pack of sugar-free gum around to chew on throughout the day, since the constant chewing motion stimulates the salivary glands. Hopefully, as researchers learn more about the effects of green tea extract on the glands, more products will be developed and consumers will have another reliable way to combat chronic dry mouth.
