Natural Remedies for Dry Mouth and Swollen Tongue
Mouth problems are quite common and many people keep having them now and then. Ulcers, swelling of gums, toothaches, chapped lips; these are all common problems that are easily treatable.
A sore or swollen tongue and a dry mouth are some of the mouth problems that shouldn’t alarm you. Though these can be really irritating and could slur your speech, these are symptoms that probably mean that you have an allergy. Usually the tongue swells up when you ingest some food material that you are allergic to. The tongue may become swollen and even sore. The color and texture might also change and a build up of food material is quite evident on your tongue. Often the swelling up of tongue is indicative of bad oral hygiene and a little cleaning would solve the problem.
People who are in the habit of chewing tobacco also frequently complain of swollen tongue and dry mouth. Tobacco can cause irritation in the mouth due to which inflammation can occur. Avoiding such irritation causing substances can be really helpful in maintaining good oral health. If your tongue looks unclean and furry, try cleaning it with a toothbrush with soft bristles. Use of strong medications could also cause dryness of mouth and swelling of tongue. Antihistamines usually cause these symptoms. Radiation therapy, smoking, menopause and the removal of salivary glands are also possible causes.
To get rid of all these problems, start with avoiding alcohol, tobacco and any caffeinated drinks that you might be in the habit of drinking. Take a glass of warm water and add half a teaspoon of turmeric to it. Gargle with it every morning. Celery sticks are also useful in providing relief. Celery has high quantity of water in it. It also helps in stimulating salivary glands and soothing the tongue. Have a lot of gravy, broths, butter and yogurt. Switch to soft and semi solid foods. Broths, stews and soups are great in your condition.
If your dry mouth and swollen tongue are accompanied by bad breath, chew on some parsley. It not only sweetens your breath but also is a rich source of many vitamins and minerals. Fennel seeds mixed with aniseed also work as a soothing mouthwash to soothe your tongue, remove the bad breath and stimulating salivary glands. You can also make your own herbal mouth wash. Soak aniseed, rosemary and mint leaves in water over night. In the morning, strain the water and use it as a mouthwash. Mint cools and refreshes the mouth, soothing the swollen tongue. Aniseed sweetens your breath and rosemary fights the germs and acts as a germicide.
