Beyond Water: What is the best drink for Sjogren's?

November 1, 2025 •

3 min read

For many of the millions living with Sjögren's, a primary symptom is persistent dry mouth, which can make eating and swallowing difficult. Finding relief often starts with simple changes to your fluid intake, which raises the question: what is the best drink for Sjogren's to manage discomfort and stay hydrated effectively?

Quick Summary

This guide details the optimal beverages for managing Sjogren's dry mouth, emphasizing frequent sips of water and sugar-free options while outlining drinks to avoid. It also offers advice on soothing homemade rinses and special formulations, helping to navigate daily hydration for better oral comfort.

Key Points

Sip Water Frequently: Instead of drinking large volumes at once, take small, frequent sips of plain water throughout the day to maintain consistent oral moisture without washing away natural saliva.
Avoid Caffeine and Alcohol: These substances are diuretics and dehydrate the body, worsening dry mouth symptoms.
Steer Clear of Acidic and Sugary Drinks: Beverages like soda, citrus juices, and sports drinks can irritate a sensitive mouth and increase the risk of dental decay due to reduced saliva production.
Explore Soothing Alternatives: Lukewarm herbal teas, aloe vera juice, and homemade salt-and-baking-soda rinses can offer soothing relief and additional hydration.
Use Sugar-Free Lozenges or Gum: Chewing sugar-free gum or sucking on lozenges, especially those with xylitol, can stimulate saliva flow to help keep your mouth moist.
Consider Artificial Saliva: For more persistent dryness, over-the-counter saliva substitutes in spray, gel, or lozenge form can provide longer-lasting relief than plain water.

Understanding Sjogren's and Dry Mouth

Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease where the body's white blood cells attack its own moisture-producing glands, primarily the salivary glands in the mouth and lacrimal glands in the eyes. The resulting condition of dry mouth, or xerostomia, can lead to difficulty chewing, swallowing, and speaking. It also significantly increases the risk of dental cavities, tooth loss, and oral infections like thrush. Proper hydration is crucial, but not all beverages are created equal when it comes to providing relief and protecting oral health. The right drink can provide comfort, while the wrong one can exacerbate symptoms and cause irritation.

The Best Hydrating Drinks for Sjogren's

Water is the gold standard for hydration for Sjogren's patients. However, how and when you drink it matters. Sipping water frequently throughout the day is more effective than drinking large amounts at once, which can wash away the small amount of natural saliva and moisture present. Sucking on small ice chips can also be soothing and provide sustained moisture.

Plain Water: Still or filtered water is the most important fluid to consume frequently. It hydrates without any irritating or dehydrating side effects.
Sugarless Drinks: Many sugarless drinks are good options, especially those without caffeine or acidity.
Herbal Tea (lukewarm or at room temperature): Certain herbal teas can be soothing. Ensure they are lukewarm or at room temperature, as very hot or very cold beverages can irritate a sensitive mouth. Look for calming varieties like chamomile or ginger.
Aloe Vera Juice: Some holistic approaches suggest that aloe vera juice can help soothe and coat the mouth.
Moisture-rich fruit and vegetable juices: Less acidic options like peach or pear juice, or blended smoothies containing melons and cucumbers, can be beneficial.

Drinks to Limit or Avoid with Sjogren's

Certain beverages can worsen dry mouth symptoms, irritate oral tissues, or increase the risk of dental problems. It's best to limit or completely avoid the following:

Caffeinated Beverages: Coffee, black tea, and many sodas contain caffeine, a diuretic that can dehydrate the body and worsen dry mouth.
Alcoholic Drinks: Alcohol is also a dehydrating agent and can significantly worsen dry mouth.
Acidic Drinks: The acidity in beverages like colas, some sports drinks, and citrus juices can damage tooth enamel, which is already at a higher risk of decay due to reduced saliva.
Sugary Drinks: Sugary sodas and juices feed bacteria in the mouth, increasing the risk of cavities.
Carbonated Drinks: The carbonation in fizzy drinks can be irritating to a dry, sensitive mouth.

The Role of Specialty Products and Homemade Rinses

In addition to adjusting your regular beverage intake, there are products specifically designed for dry mouth relief.

Artificial Saliva: These products, available as sprays, gels, or lozenges, contain lubricants that help the mouth stay moist for a longer period than plain water.
Sugar-Free Lozenges or Gum: Sucking on sugar-free candies or chewing gum, especially those with xylitol, stimulates saliva flow and helps protect against tooth decay.
Homemade Mouth Rinse: For a simple, non-irritating rinse, mix one teaspoon of salt and one teaspoon of baking soda into a liter of water. This can provide hydration and help neutralize oral pH.

Comparison of Recommended and Discouraged Drinks


Feature	Recommended Drinks	Discouraged Drinks
Best for Hydration	Water, sugarless drinks	Coffee, alcohol
Effect on Dry Mouth	Soothes, provides moisture	Dehydrates, worsens dryness
Oral Health Risk	Low (especially sugar-free)	High (due to sugar, acid, dehydration)
Irritation Level	Low (if not too hot/cold)	High (due to acidity, spice)
Flavoring	Herbal infusions, natural flavors	Acidic, sugary, artificial flavors

Conclusion

For individuals with Sjogren's, the best drink for managing dry mouth is plain water, sipped frequently throughout the day. Alongside this, opting for sugar-free beverages, lukewarm herbal teas, and soothing alternatives like homemade rinses and aloe vera juice can provide significant relief. By consistently avoiding dehydrating, acidic, and sugary beverages, you can not only alleviate discomfort but also protect your dental health from the increased risks associated with Sjogren's. A proactive and informed approach to hydration is a cornerstone of effective symptom management.

This information is for general knowledge and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider for any health concerns. For more information, you can visit the Sjögren's Foundation website.

Frequently Asked Questions

It is generally advised to avoid or significantly limit coffee. The caffeine in coffee is a diuretic that can exacerbate dry mouth symptoms by promoting dehydration.

Most fruit juices, especially citrus ones, are acidic and can harm tooth enamel in individuals with dry mouth. It's best to avoid them or choose less acidic options like pear or peach juice, consumed in moderation.

A bland, soothing mouth rinse can be made by mixing one teaspoon of salt and one teaspoon of baking soda in one liter of water. This mixture can help hydrate the mouth and neutralize its pH.

Artificial saliva products often work better than plain water because they contain lubricants, like carboxymethylcellulose, that help your mouth stay moist for a longer period of time.

Carbonated drinks can be irritating to a dry and sensitive mouth and are best avoided. If you have GERD, also common in Sjogren's, carbonated beverages can worsen symptoms.

Sipping water frequently is more effective than gulping. Taking small sips throughout the day helps maintain constant moisture, whereas gulping can wash away any residual saliva.

Yes, some holistic approaches suggest that herbs like slippery elm and aloe vera can soothe and coat the mouth, providing additional relief from dryness.