by Art Solbrig November 17, 2020
A Natural Spray That Can Possibly Help Dry Mouth, Gum Disease, Dry Lips, Dry Eyes, Dry Skin, and Eye Floaters!
With fall in full swing and winter just around the corner, this information may be most useful and timely!
Winter weather comes with heater use, which can have a very drying effect on your skin, eyes, and your mouth. The information below may be a useful way to deal with these issues year-round, but definitely in the winter!
Dry Mouth Causes
Dry mouth is a common symptom, but I think when many of you see your doctor, it may not be the highest priority to talk to the doctor about it, with the other symptoms possibly being more prominent in the patient's mind.
Another consideration is that dry mouth is likely more common as we age. Another issue is that some medications are well known for causing dry mouth.
I get dry mouth at times and have had it bad enough where my tongue felt like it was glued to the roof of my mouth. That was a shocker to wake up and find I could not move my tongue!
- Dry mouth can also be a common symptom of Sjogren's Syndrome, among other health issues that can also cause dry mouth.
- Dry mouth can also contribute to tooth decay, making things worse in terms of overall health and total inflammatory burden.
Dry Mouth Relief
I have found that a straightforward mix I make at home temporarily helps alleviate my dry mouth. I combine xylitol, food-grade vegetable glycerine, distilled water or aloe vera juice, peppermint essential oil, and spearmint essential oil.
I mix the granular xylitol at approximately 5% to 10% with around 5% to 10% vegetable glycerine. I add these two to the distilled water or aloe vera juice and then drops of spearmint and peppermint essential oils to the mix to taste.
Sometimes I use peppermint essential oil or both spearmint and peppermint oils. I shake this mix and then I fill a two-ounce spray bottle with it and leave it on my nightstand, so on those rare occasions when my mouth gets dry at night, I reach over and put two sprays in my mouth and the dry mouth is controlled and refreshed by the spray. I try not to use more than two pumps because that is just enough to work, and then I usually don't swallow any.
When my dry mouth condition used to be worse and was noticeable during my waking hours, I used to carry another two-ounce spray bottle in my pocket and spray as needed.
Another advantage of this mix is that the xylitol can kill some bacteria and some biofilms, as can the essential oils. Another added benefit is that the combination of xylitol and vegetable glycerine has anti-irritant qualities as outlined in studies.
This simple mix has other uses, but this is what I mainly use it for. I always use food-grade vegetable glycerine, and xylitol, the common sugar substitute, is already intended for internal consumption. Good quality essential oils are required.
Ingredients
You can find links to these items on Amazon at the bottom of this article.
- 1 oz. food-grade glycerin
- 1 oz xylitol granules
- 10 oz. distilled water
- 25 drops of high-quality peppermint essential oil
Optional Ingredients
- 20 drops of high-quality spearmint essential oil
- Aloe vera juice as a replacement for the distilled water
Instructions
- Pour 1 ounce of food-grade glycerin into a measuring cup and add xylitol granules to the measuring cup until the 2-ounce marker line is reached and mix until granules dissolve.
- Pour this mix into a 16-ounce bottle and add the 10 ounces of distilled water to the spray bottle.
- Add the peppermint essential oil and replace the lid on the bottle and shake vigorously.
- It is now ready for use. Add the spearmint oil if desired.
- Always refrigerate the 16 ounce bottle when not in use.
I usually pour some of this mix into a 2-ounce spray bottle that I carry in my pocket and another 2-ounce spray bottle for my nightstand. Two squirts is all it takes to instantly give lasting oral moisture and refreshment. This mix is also anti-biofilm, anti-irritant, and antibacterial toward gum disease-causing bacteria and cavities!
To make less, simply cut the ingredients in half.
The spray also makes it easier to apply a skin moisturizer!
Here is a great article on the dental benefits of Xylitol.
Chapped Lips
The other day I noticed that my lips were dry and slightly chapped, so I used the xylitol/glycerine spray on them. I sprayed the tip of my finger and then rubbed my finger over my lips, and that worked very well to normalize my chapped lips!
This homemade dry mouth oral spray acts as a skin moisturizer, but according to this recent study, the glycerine /xylitol combination also has anti-inflammatory qualities and skin barrier enhancing qualities, suggesting other potential uses besides as a remedy for dry mouth or for dry skin!
Aloe Vera Substitution
Substituting aloe vera juice instead of distilled water can convert this spray from a moisturizer to a skin damage healer based on these two studies:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29520873/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29649056/
Depending on what type of aloe vera you use in this alternate mixture, it may no longer be safe for oral use. You would have to use an aloe product meant for oral use, such as aloe juice that is safe for oral consumption, and then you can still use it as an oral moisturizer! This mix is likely to also be useful for bedsores and prevention because of its moisturizing effects, antibacterial effects, and it's ability to help restore the skin barrier function.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27349297/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26370610/
It has worked incredibly well to keep my skin moisturized during the winter. I have been applying it to my face, and it definitely works well for this purpose. As an added benefit, the face application has helped with dry eye issues!
Since applying this every day to my entire face, including my eyelids, I seldom need to use eye drops anymore! I imagine this is due to the aloe gel's moisturizing and anti-inflammatory qualities and the xylitol and food-grade glycerine's humectant and anti-inflammatory qualities.
Since dry eye is a symptom related to Parkinson's Disease, I thought it was worth mentioning.
For facial application, skip the peppermint essential oil in the mix as it can be irritating to people with sensitive eyes. The spearmint oil should not be an issue with the eyes.
One other benefit I have found from the facial application is that my eye floaters have diminished by about 70%. Before this, the floaters have seemed to only increase over the years, so a reduction of any amount is quite welcome!
Xylitol Warning for Dogs
Do not let your dog get anywhere near xylitol as it can kill them!!!
Where to Buy
All of these ingredients can be found at Amazon and possibly Walmart. Here are a few product links on Amazon.
Nature's Way Premium Quality Aloe Vera Leaf Juice 99.5% Purified Aloe Vera Leaf Juice, 33.8 fl oz.
doTERRA Peppermint Essential Oil 5ml
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