Q I drink three or four cups of coffee a day — could that be making my dry mouth worse?
A Caffeine has a diuretic effect that draws more fluid out of the body, and combined with smoking or alcohol, it can dry out the oral mucosa further. If cutting it out completely is hard, drinking water alongside each cup of coffee can already help.
Detailed Answer
Caffeinated drinks like coffee and tea increase urine output, pulling the body's overall fluid level down. Alcohol and smoking also irritate the oral mucosa and suppress saliva production, worsening dryness. Salty or spicy foods can also make the mouth feel drier.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
Even without cutting these out entirely, reducing the amount and drinking water frequently already makes a difference. Treatment that replenishes the body's fluids can also make the body less sensitive to the same level of caffeine intake.
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