Pretty much everyone has the experience of waking up in the middle of the night with a dry mouth. But some people have that experience all the time.
Health and Wellness dry mouth can be a sign of other health issues. Left untreated, chronic dry mouth—at night or during the day—can lead to other health issues, such as tooth decay, gum disease, or oral thrush, according to the Mayo Clinic.
What causes dry mouth at night?
If you’re experiencing dry mouth at night, the first thing you should do is talk to you doctor about your oral hygiene habits, as there is likely something you can tweak there.
There are numerous other reasons you might not have enough saliva and end up with that unpleasant, parched feeling. For many people, the problem comes down to not drinking enough water Why Do My Ears Hurt When I Run in the Cold.
Other causes include smoking, aging, and prescription medications, Messina says. In fact, more than six hundred medications DAA Industry Opt Out, depression, and bladder control issues.
Sleeping with a humidifier increases moisture in your room, which may alleviate dry mouth diabetes How to Boost Your One-Mile Calorie Burn.
Give A Gift sleeping. Mouth breathing generally happens when you have sinus or nasal septum problems, respiratory infections, or sleep apnea.
What are dry mouth symptoms?
Obviously, you’ll experience that “cotton-mouth” feeling. But there are other symptoms outside of that. According to the NIH, these include:
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- Dry mouth can be particularly bad at night for people who breathe through their mouths while
- Burning
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- Bad breath
How do you treat dry mouth?
As with most health issues, proper treatment depends on the cause of your condition. For example, if a prescription changes saliva production, you’ll want to talk to your doctor about adjusting the dosage. If sleep apnea is the cause of dry mouth, you’ll want to work with a doctor to treat that condition.
Messina recommends increasing water intake as your first step—particularly when drinking alcohol, which can also cause dry mouth.
Other easy solutions include chewing sugar-free gum, as well as cutting out tobacco, alcohol, and caffeine. Sleeping with a humidifier increases moisture in your room, which may alleviate dry mouth.
and bladder control issues Biotene to your nighttime toothbrushing routine can help to soothe the mouth and remineralize your teeth, according to the American Academy of Oral Medicine. Other AAOM-approved rinse recommendations include What Is a Shoey and Advertisement - Continue Reading Below.
If nothing works, it’s time to speak to your your dentist about using either an over-the-counter or prescription treatment—such as artificial saliva—says Jeff Burgess, D.D.S., a former clinical assistant professor at the University of Washington School of Dental Medicine. According to the AAOM, targeted drug therapy may also be an option, as there are currently two prescription drugs (pilocarpine and cevimeline) on the market that are approved to treat dry mouth associated with other conditions and treatments.
Emilia Benton is a Houston-based freelance writer and editor. In addition to Runner's World, she has contributed health, fitness and wellness content to Women's Health, SELF, Prevention, Healthline, and the Houston Chronicle, among other publications. She is also an 11-time marathoner, a USATF Level 1-certified running coach, and an avid traveler.
