It seems that as baby boomers age there are more products for dry mouth. Age is just one reason for dry mouth. Your dry mouth could be caused by medication you are on or an illness so please see a doctor if your dry mouth persists.
I use two products. I started with Biotene Mouthwash, which the 16-ounce plastic bottle says, is the number one dentist recommended brand for dry mouth. This is true however as far as I know Laclede, Incorporated, makers of Biotene, was the first company to market a whole host of products for dry mouth. They are very well known in the dry mouth community!
Biotene claims (from the bottle) to have calcium; to have bio-active enzyme protection; and to be alcohol free. These four enzymes are said to boost and restore the defense system that’s found in saliva. These kill bacteria and have no side effects.
The second brand I have tried is newer to the dry mouth market. Oasis, comes from the makers of Sensodyne, the brand for sensitive teeth. It also comes in a 16-ounce plastic bottle. Both these brands will run you in the $6.00 range.
Biotene is made with natural peppermint. Oasis comes in a mild mint flavor or the original formula. Oasis in a mild mint flavor runs about $1.00 more than the original flavor. I bought the mint flavored Oasis.
Oasis claims (from the bottle) to have a technology called Tri Hydra that “moistures your mouth, locks in moisture, helps protect dryness.”
Neither of these products contains alcohol. If you have dry mouth avoid any products with alcohol. Check your toothpaste!
We are told that Oasis lasts about two hours and I find that to be about right. We are told that we can use Biotene Mouthwash two to three times a day. It seems that Biotene lasts longer but I find them to last about the same amount of time.
Oasis contains Sodium Saccharin and Biotene contains Xylitol. The verdict seems to still be out on the health risks saccharin poses. At one time it was listed as a substance that did cause cancer in laboratory rats; in another later study that was found not to be true.
Biotene contains Xylitol which is a naturally occurring sweetener found in berries. It seems to have less controversy around how safe it is.
The ingredients in Oasis are: Water, Glycerin, Sorbitol, Poloxamer 338, PEG 60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Cellulose Gum, Cetylpyridinium Chloride, Copovidone, Disodium Phosphate, FD&C; Blue 1, Flavor, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Saccharin, Xanthan
The ingredients in Biotene are: Water, Xylitol, Hydrogenated Starch, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Aloe Vera, Natural Peppermint, Poloxamer 407, Calcium Lactate, Sodium Benzoate, Benzoic Acid
My final thoughts
I really would prefer to use an organic product but they don’t seem to target dry mouth. I like writing reviews because I learn from them. I hadn’t bothered to really read the ingredients. Now that I have I’ll stick with Biotene. They both work. I don’t love the taste of either of them but I liked Oasis a bit more though it will cost you more. I was going to buy Oasis again but I’ll skip it since I’d rather not put saccharin in my body.
