Biotene is a line of dry mouth products that claim to have a “unique LP3 salivary enzyme-protein system” to keep a mouth moist. Many things can cause dry mouth, from dehydration and diabetes to allergies and medications. With products designed to increase saliva in the mouth, dry mouth can be an annoying condition of the past. While Biotene has a full line of products, there are some that are consumer favorites.
Biotene Antibacterial Dry Mouth Toothpaste with Calcium in Gentle Mint Gel
This toothpaste, for 100 gm, has active ingredients that include 10,000 units of glucose oxidase, 15,000 units of lactoperoxidase, 16 mg of lysozyme, 0.14% sodium monofluorophosphate and 16 mg of lactoferrin. Its inactive ingredients are cellulose gum, xylitol, isoceteth 20, glycerin, sorbitol, hydrated silica, flavor and calcium lactate. More inactive ingredients include sodium benzoate, beta D glucose, poloxamer, potassium thiocyanate and blue 1 lake.
Glucose oxidase, lactoperoxidase and lysozyme are enzymes that are added to reduce the frequency of dry mouth conditions and increase saliva production. There are sweeteners like sorbitol to give the mouthwash a sweeter flavor.
Biotene Mouthwash with Calcium
This calcium fortified mouthwash has water, xylitol, aloe leaf juice, peppermint and glucose oxidase. It also has hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, propylene glycol, poloxamer 407, calcium lactate, zinc gluconate, hydroxyethylcellulose, lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase, potassium thiocyanate, benzoic acid and sodium benzoate.
Preservatives in this formula include bezoic acid and sodium benzoate. This keeps the mouthwash fresher longer. The calcium lactate is a naturally forming organic acid and is added to increase calcium. The FDA has approved it as GRAS, or generally regarded as safe.
Biotene PBF Toothpaste
This toothpaste has the anticativity 0.14% sodium monofluorophosphate as its main ingredient. Other ingredients include glycerin, hydrated silica, glucose oxidase, lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase, lysozyme, mutanase and dextranase. FD&C blue 1, D&C yellow 10, cellulose gum, calcium lactate, beta d glucose, isoceteth 20, poloxamer, sodium benzoate, potassium thiocyanate, sorbitol and xylitol are also ingredients.
Sweeteners like xylitol and sorbitol are added for flavor. Glucose oxidase, lactoperoxidase and lysozyme are added to the toothpaste to increase saliva activity and reduce dry mouth.
Biotene Mouthwash
The non-calcium enriched mouthwash has purified water, xylitol, propylene glycol, aloe leaf juice and peppermint. Other ingredients include calcium lactate, zinc gluconate, sodium benzoate, potassium thiocyanate, benzoic acid, poloxamer 407, hydroxycellulose and hydrogenated starch hydrolysate.
Standard preservatives such as benzoic acid and sodium benzoate keep this mouthwash fresh and stable on the shelf while sweeteners like xylitol make it flavorful.
Dry mouth can be an annoying daily feature to some on certain medications. However there are products that will help in restoring saliva production. Careful knowledge of the ingredients can keep favorites in the medicine cabinet without the possibility of an allergy.
Tina Samuels - Tina Samuels specializes in health, animal, and gardening articles. She authored "A Georgia Native Plant Guide".
