If you have a dry mouth, you may feel as though it's full of cotton. Sometimes a common cold can cause a dry mouth. Other causes include medications, cancer therapy and health conditions such as depression, stroke or diabetes. If your dry mouth is severe, you may find relief in artificial saliva products. If your condition is mild and not very bothersome, however, you may be able to treat your mouth dryness at home, naturally.

Drink water. Sipping water throughout the day can help keep your mucous membranes moist. If you don't like water, choose another sugar-free beverage to sip regularly.

Concentrate on breathing through your nose. Breathing through your mouth can make your mouth dry 1. If your nose is stuffed, treat your congestion by inhaling steam from a hot shower or using saline drops, and then blow your nose well.

Run a humidifier in your bedroom, especially at night. A cool mist humidifier can help keep your mouth moist and also help to relieve nasal congestion, which may exacerbate your dry mouth.

Choose foods that are moist. If you want to eat something that is dry, consider moistening it with broth, gravy or sauce. Pick cool or room temperature foods over hot foods.

Suck on sugar-free candy or chew sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva production. Do not suck or chew on products that contain sugar, because the sugar coupled with inadequate saliva can put you at risk for dental cavities.

Make lifestyle changes, if necessary. Avoid caffeinated beverages, because they can be drying. Alcohol and tobacco can make a dry mouth worse, so cut down on drinking and smoking or quit.