Answer: Common medications that may cause a person to have a dry mouth include: water pills; blood pressure meds called "ACE inhibitors" (Lisinopril, Accupril); antidepressants; decongestant pills; and antihistamines. Hundreds of medications can potentially cause dry mouth, so you might want to review the list of all prescription and over-the-counter drugs you're taking with your pharmacist.

Poorly controlled diabetes and Parkinson's disease can also cause a dry mouth. There's also an auto-immune condition known as Sjogren's disease.

A dry mouth can result from surgery or radiation to the salivary glands. A dry mouth can also be due to much simpler causes such as dehydration from hot weather, salty foods, and not drinking enough water with meals. Be sure that you're drinking at least eight glasses of water per day - and an additional 16 to 32 ounces of fluid for every hour you're exercising, working hard or tanning. Carry a water bottle with you so you can sip liquids throughout the day, and keep one at the bedside at night.

Chew sugarless gum or suck on sugarless candy to help improve saliva flow. Avoid alcohol-based mouthwash - it will dry your mouth out further. Avoid alcoholic, carbonated and caffeine-containing drinks. There's also a medication called Salagen that will stimulate saliva flow. It's especially helpful in Sjogren's and may be helpful in your situation.

Avoid salty foods, dry foods like crackers or cookies, apply lip balm as needed, and eat soft and moist foods. Lastly, since decreased saliva flow greatly increases the risk of cavities, make sure to brush your teeth frequently and see your dentist often.

Electric blankets a cancer risk?

A: Electrical and magnetic fields are all around us. Our mother earth produces electro-magnetic fields (EMFs) both through lightning storms and electric currents flowing deep within its magnetic core. Electrical power lines, batteries, household appliances, and the wiring within our homes are all known to generate EMFs.

The concern that prolonged exposure to EMFs might cause cancer stems from studies that have shown an association between those living or working close to high-voltage power lines and an increased incidence of certain cancers.

An international panel of experts reported to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in June 1998 that "electric and magnetic fields like those surrounding electric power lines should be regarded as a possible human carcinogen [cancer inducer]." The studies showed a slight increase in childhood leukemia from power line/residential exposures and an increase in chronic leukemia in adults working in electricity-intensive industries.

OSHA and the NIH have been studying the potential health risk of EMF, and to date, no definitive conclusions have been made.

Most manufacturers have redesigned their blankets so as to generate extremely low electro-magnetic fields. There's no way to make an electric blanket totally EMF-free, but newer blankets seem to be quite safe - at least from the cancer standpoint. The concern I have is that one could risk starting a fire if the wires were damaged by sitting or placing heavy objects on the bed. If your blanket is marked "UL listed" (check the tag or label), it meets the insurance industry safety standards and should be safe and effective for years when not misused.