On a previous post I talked about the cursed dry-mouth in public speaking. I recommend that post as a precursor to this one. I shared the top 3 ways you can prevent having dry-mouth 36 hours before you stand before your audience. Your audience can range from an event, to a meeting, to a tough conversation.
Just as important, if not more important, is the day of and hours before your message.
Here are the top 4 ways to beat dry-mouth the day of your talk:
1) Avoid milk and dairy.
Phlegm, phlegm, phlegm. Stringy saliva. Constant clearing of your throat. Leave the dairy be.
Then an hour or so before you go on:
2) Paint on the chapstick.
Chapstick is your friend—especially if you have dry-mouth. In my experience, having moist lips removes part of the distraction and fosters mouth-moisture. Either way, put on a nice slathering of it no matter what. It helps your mouth be more elastic as you speak.
3) Sip water.
Pace yourself with one bottle. If you’re a brave soul, take the bottled water out with you and sip as needed. However, I don’t recommend this. I only do it as a last resort—only if my throat is shot or phlegmy. It feels weird to have people stare while you pause and turn up a bottle of water. If you have shaky hands, they will be on full display.
If you are having a tough one-on-one conversation, by all means break out the bottled water for everyone. It not only helps any dry-mouth, but gives you both a go-to for tense moments.
4) Suck on a lozenge.
After all you’ve done, if dry-mouth is upon you still, get a lozenge. Actually, a lozenge is good whether you have dry-mouth or not. A lozenge forces moisture in your mouth. Caution! It has to be the right lozenge. For example, lozenges with sugar can actually make your mouth more dry after using it. That’s not the case for everyone, but I would play it safe. I recommend this lozenge.
Finally, when you’re talk is done, do everyone a favor and throw in another lozenge so your breath doesn’t melt their face.
I’ve melted many.
Finally, barring the dairy, I’d suggest a backpack or case to carry with you with these items on hand for every opportunity. Don’t depend on the venue for provisions. Always arrive prepared. Remove every distraction.
Now you’re fine-tuned and ready to bring the goods. You got this. Serve them, love them, with your message. And have fun!
—–
If you liked this post, you might also like: How I Went From Gross To Good At Public Speaking (And So Can You).
Also check out: The #1 Way To Grab (And Keep) Your Audience’s Attention
