Dry mouth

I use Duraphat, dentist's prescription and Biotene and doctor's prescription.

Watermeadow I'm an ex-dentist and I wouldn't try to stimulate saliva production with acidic fruit.
You might not get caries (decay) but you would certainly increase your risk of dental erosion (wearing away of the enamel) which can be nearly as catastrophic.
I used to recommend this www.boots.com/biotene-oral-balance-gel-10104167
and I would also use a high floride toothpaste (duraphat, you may need a prescription, can't remember!) and fluorigard mouthwash.
Hope that helps.

Glad I'm not alone. Dr did ask about RA and ordered a diabetes test but my eyes are not dry so presumably not Sjogrens and I have no other signs of diabetes.
Dr told me to eat acidic fruit but I can't bear anything acidic and fear that would hasten tooth decay. Going to the dentist next week.
I must stop complaining about it, it's not going to kill me and full-blown RA is far worse.

Yes, Ayto immune conditions rarely trAvel alone. My RA started in my mid twenties, flared up after a pregnancy ten yeArs later. The GP told me the RA test was negative and to be thankful. By my mid forties I'd developed a whole stack of conditions and had the fortune to see a GP with An interest in rheumatology, who made the referral to a professor. Twenty odd years of untreated RA is not a positive experience. Most people will say things like "yes my knees ache, where is your arthritis" with no idea it's everywhere and can cause inflammation in all major organs

Teetime It's a horrible "boxed set" Lupus is part of our family history too. You never get just one of the conditions, they come in an autoimmune package! People do not understand what a terrible condition it is. When you say you have R.A people reply with, "Oh I have sore knees too". You just have to get on with it and make the best of any days you feel reasonably well.

I have this issue too but always put it down to the fact i have a partial denture at the top. I chew sugar free gum constantly to moisten my mouth, it is a real nusiance!!!!

Sjogrens here too its a boxed set with Lupus!! I just have to have plenty of drinks especially throughut the night and I stick to plain water and clean my teeth several times a day. I use an calendula eye spray for dry eyes which is wonderfully relieving. I get dry itchy ears too - can do anything about that.

I had rheumatoid arthritis for over 20 years before it was diagnosed. My GP in those days dismissed it as "withdrawal symptoms" from oral steroids for lung problems, despite a family history of the disease. So I just put up with it, despite being in great pain, because I naively assumed my doctor was right.
It was my wonderful respiratory consultant who realised something was amiss and referred me to my rheumatologist. The steroids had been masking my condition for all those years. I was then diagnosed with RA and a number of other conditions.
Please get an appointment with a different GP and explain how this is affecting your life. GPs do a great job, but work under immense pressure and some don't always have the time or patience to listen, due to pressure of time. Better to set your mind at rest. There are lots of reasons for dry mouth, so it may indeed just be old age. I hope it improves soon.

Have you been tested for diabetes? Thirst and dry mouth are common symptoms.

Exactly Marydoll, rheumatologists are the real experts. If you have a rheumatologist, it sounds as though you're one of the many who have a little stack of unpleasant auto immune conditions that were diagnosed after one of them caused so much difficulty, a GP realised a referral was needed.

Iam64 You are correct about GPs not being good at recognising auto immune conditions. Fortunately my rheumatologist diagnosed my Sjogrens

Judthepud2 same for me. don't know the cause, but medication perhaps.Constantly have to sip water at night, just used to it now though.

I have something called Burnt Tongue Syndrome which flares up every now and then it feels just like my tongue and lips are burnt and very dry all the time. Sugar free gum helps with the dryness but nothing really relieves the awful pain it seems to come and go of its own accord. Sorry I'm not much help.

I'm another with Sjogrens along with other autoimmune conditions. Gp's aren't all good at recognising auto immune conditions, go back armed with info from dr google

I have a condition called Sjogren's syndrome (a long-term autoimmune disease in which the moisture-producing glands of the body are affected ) I have very dry eyes, dry mouth and hoarseness. I can understand how you are suffering. I use artificial tears and saliva (on prescription)and have to use a prescription toothpaste to help prevent tooth decay. I waken up many times at night, desperately thirsty, drink gallons of water and then have to keep getting up for the loo. I'm surprised your doctor isn't much more of a help. Sucking sugar free fruit gums often helps.

Are you on any medication? Many of them have that as a side effect. I suffer from this too due to several medications I am on. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night with my tongue actually glued to the roof of my mouth. I drink water just before bed and after getting up but it doesn't help much. I use mouthwash which helps a bit. Also chewing gum at times.