In case you missed Senator Marco Rubio’s reply to the President’s State of the Union address, and every news and comedy show the following week, he and a water bottle had an entertainingly awkward interaction. I know he’s not the only one, who else have you seen reach nervously for a drink while presenting? Have you?
I made a huge mistake once by taking an antihistamine two hours before a lecture- my mouth was so dry that my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth and my contact lenses became so blurry that I couldn’t see my notes. Drinking water didn’t help quickly enough. I learned never to do that again.
Tell us about your worst dry mouth story
Here are some helpful hints to help you in the future...
BEFORE
Avoid drinking caffeine (whether hot tea, coffee, hot chocolate, or mountain dew) or taking antihistamines within 2-3 hours of speaking. If you are flying cross-country to speak at an event or just to have a good time, try not to drink caffeine on the trip. Caffeine is a dehydrant and your vocal folds need to be wet when you speak a lot.
Drink water! Your body is up to 70% water, after all.
You might also wet a paper towel and put in a baggy before you leave. During the trip, pull it out and inhale and exhale into your damp paper towel, it will keep the air in your trachea or windpipe moist.
DURING
If your mouth gets dry while you are speaking, bite the tip of your tongue with your side or back teeth (bite hard)-- this causes saliva to flow which will keep your mouth wet so that you can articulate with precision. Try it right now! I promise that it works.
If you want to have water handy, do so, but have it in a nice glass and have it nearby. And make sure you check the placement of the glass BEFORE you begin speaking. You don’t want to reach awkwardly far away or drink from a plastic bottle as Senator Marco Rubio did the evening of the State of the Union address.
I’ll comment back with tips that have worked for our readers, so please share your stories and your solutions.
