# How do I get rid of cotton mouth? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 12, 2001, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-cotton-mouth/86933 "2001-10-12T00:08:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2001, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-cotton-mouth/86933/1 "2001-10-12T00:08:49Z")
I’m taking lithium and damn it, my mouth is as dry a turtle in the desert! I drink and I drink, but it passes right threw me in 5 minutes! Any remedies for the common cotton mouth? Will pedialyte help? I WILL talk to my Dr. tomorrow… but I can’t wait until then, and I am looking in all the wrong places on the net. I’m sure the stoners on these boards could benefit from the information as well!! ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2001, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-cotton-mouth/86933/2 "2001-10-12T00:15:43Z")
Maybe ask a pharmacist? Perhaps some lozenge or throat drop? Or check search engines like Google. Good luck. Doesn’t sound pleasant. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2001, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-cotton-mouth/86933/3 "2001-10-12T00:30:15Z")
Hmm, back in my hippie days, I always drank water. Worked really well as long as I kept drinking water. Or is that not an option here? ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2001, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-cotton-mouth/86933/4 "2001-10-12T01:04:32Z")
From my experience, you need something with sugar in it. It seems to coat the mouth and throat and the air you draw in doesn’t seem to dry it out so fast. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2001, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-cotton-mouth/86933/5 "2001-10-12T01:13:51Z")
But if you really get desperate, roll on down to the herbal remedies shop and ask for Slippery Elm lozenges. Results are certain. ---
**Author:** ![Schadenfreude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac8455/32.png) [@Schadenfreude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schadenfreude)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2001, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-cotton-mouth/86933/6 "2001-10-12T02:50:36Z")
> [@](#): > > Any remedies for the common cotton mouth? Get a long, forked stick, and hold its head down. Do not attempt to pick it up, as it is an aggressive snake, with a very venomous bite. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bob\_Scene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Bob\_Scene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Scene)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2001, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-cotton-mouth/86933/7 "2001-10-12T07:10:41Z")
Fresca. When I have med mouth, nothing works better than Fresca. I usually leave an open can of it in the refrigerator so I can go take a drink of it whenever I need it. It has an immediate soothing effect and stimulates my salivary glands. YMMV, though. If you have a chronically dry mouth, you need to take really good care of your teeth, so try not to drink too much of anything sugary without brushing your teeth. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2001, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-get-rid-of-cotton-mouth/86933/8 "2001-10-12T17:38:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bob Scene \* > \*\*If you have a chronically dry mouth, you need to take really good care of your teeth, so try not to drink too much of anything sugary without brushing your teeth. \*\* On a related note, you might want to ask your dentist about a prescription toothpaste called Prevident. It contains a stronger concentration of fluoride than regular toothpaste, and was originally developed for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy (the treatment often results in an extremely dry mouth). Back to the OP– I know it’s bad for my teeth, but sweetened iced tea is great when my mouth is super dry. Ice-cold water also works well.