Q: I've got a really dry mouth - please help?

A. A dry mouth is rarely a sign of anything serious. There are things you can do to help ease it yourself.

The main causes of a dry mouth are: dehydration (for example, from not drinking enough, sweating a lot or being ill); medicines (check the leaflet or search for your medicine online to see if dry mouth is a side effect); breathing through your mouth at night (this can happen if you have a blocked nose, or if you sleep with your mouth open); anxiety or stress.

As a starting point, make sure you are drinking plenty of water – take regular sips during the day and keep some water by your bed at night. You can also try sucking on ice cubes or ice lollies or chew sugar-free gum or suck on sugar-free sweets.

Use lip balm if your lips are dry too; brush your teeth twice a day and use alcohol-free mouthwash – you're more likely to get tooth decay if you have a dry mouth

Don't drink lots of alcohol, caffeine (such as tea and coffee) or fizzy drinks. Don't have foods that are acidic (like lemons), spicy, salty or sugary and if you're a smoker - try to cut down or stop.

If these tips don't work, ask a pharmacist about treatments you can buy to help keep your mouth moist.

You can get gels, sprays, tablets or lozenges. But it's important to note that not all products are suitable for everyone. Ask a pharmacist for advice about the best one for you.

Q: The inner side of my foot touches the ground and someone's told me it's odd - please help?

A: You probably have flat feet. Flat feet don't usually need to be treated. You don't need to do anything if you or your child have flat feet that aren't causing any problems.

Flat feet shouldn't stop you doing any activities, including sports, and are rarely a sign of anything serious. With children, flat feet usually last until they're about 6 years of age.

If you have flat feet and your feet are painful, stiff, weak or numb, you have problems walking or with balance or it only affects one foot, seek help from your GP.

If you need treatment, your GP may refer you to a specialist like a podiatrist or physiotherapist.

Wear wide, comfortable shoes with a low heel.

You may want to try shoe insoles to support your feet, some foot stretches and exercises.

Surgery is rarely needed for flat feet.

The only time it might help if there's a problem with the bones, tissues or muscles in your feet and other treatments haven't worked.

Often there's no obvious cause for flat feet. It might just be the way your feet are and sometimes flat feet run in families.

Rarely, they may be caused by the bones in the feet not growing properly in the womb or the stretching of the tissues in your feet (possibly as a result of things like an injury, getting older or being overweight). But it is very common so try not to worry.