Dry mouth is a common condition that regularly happens during the night. It is triggered when the salivary glands do not produce adequate moisture to keep the mouth damp.
Saliva assists the mouth to naturally combat the acids and bacteria that cause dental caries, gum disease, and bad breath. An absence of saliva during the night is not just uncomfortable, but it can likewise disrupt sleep and negatively affect oral health.
A great night’s sleep is important for good health, however that serene slumber can be tough to accomplish if you frequently awaken with dry mouth in the evening.
Symptoms of Dry Mouth at Night
Normal symptoms of dry mouth at night consist of:
- Often getting up in the middle of night to have to drink water.
- Awakening in the early morning with a dry mouth.
- Dry lips and throat in the morning.
- Thick, stringy or foamy saliva in the early morning.
- A continuous sore throat.
- Burning or cracked tongue.
- Bad breath, or bad breath.
Causes of Dry Mouth During the Night
Mouth-breathing is the primary culprit of producing a dry mouth during the night. Breathing through your mouth is typically triggered by the following:
- Use of bite splint, dental retainers, or other orthodontic home appliances.
- Using a CPAP mask as part of treatment for sleep apnea.
- Snoring due to an allergic reaction or cold can cause tissue in the nose to swell, so you’re most likely to breathe through your mouth at night.
- Breathing troubles – obstructed nasal passage due to chronic sinusitis, maxillary antrolith, or a deviated nasal septum.
In addition, all of these issues can be exacerbated by a dry environment caused by central heating or air conditioning. Whatever the cause, there are a number of basic natural home remedy that can help individuals who experience dry mouth during the night to minimize the symptoms.
Dry Mouth Treatment
While there is no chance of preventing dry mouth in the evening without addressing the underlying causes, there are a variety of simple antidotes and lifestyle modifications that might prove efficient in helping those with symptoms of dry mouth find relief. These include:
- Use humidifier to enhance room air moisture levels.
- Attempt nasal strips to make it easier to breathe from your nose.
- Making dietary modifications to avoid foods that can intensify the condition. Acidic or spicy foods can be particularly annoying.
- Preventing caffeine? particularly in the evening, as both act to dry out the mouth.
- Quit alcohol
- Stopping (or cutting down on) tobacco use.
- Having a restored focus on oral hygiene. Proper care of the teeth includes brushing two times per day and flossing.
- Consuming a lot of water to remain hydrated.
- Chewing mint or parsley during the day.
While these tips and techniques can help briefly alleviate the symptoms of dry mouth during the night, they can likewise be paired with other remedies for improved results.
How to Prevent Dry Mouth at Night
The best way to treat dry mouth – known medically as xerostomia (zeer-o-STOE-me-uh)– depends on what’s triggering it. You can do some things to relieve dry mouth temporarily. However for the best long-lasting dry mouth solution, you have to resolve its cause.
To prevent and relieve your dry mouth:
- Chew sugar-free gum or draw on sugar-free difficult sweets to stimulate the circulation of saliva. For some people, xylitol, which is typically found in sugar-free gum or sugar-free sweets, may cause diarrhea or cramps if consumed in big amounts.
- Limitation your caffeine consumption since caffeine can make your mouth drier.
- Do not use mouthwashes which contain alcohol due to the fact that they can be drying.
- Stop all tobacco use if you smoke or chew tobacco.
- Sip water frequently.
- Attempt over the counter saliva substitutes – search for items containing xylitol, such as Mouth Kote or Oasis Moisturizing Mouth Spray, or ones containing carboxymethylcellulose (kahr-bok-see-meth-ul-SEL-u-lohs) or hydroxyethyl cellulose (hi-drok-see-ETH-ul SEL-u-lohs), such as Biotene Oral Balance.
- Try a mouthwash designed for dry mouth – specifically one that contains xylitol, such as Biotene Dry Mouth Oral Rinse or ACT Total Care Dry Mouth Mouthwash, which also provide defense against dental caries.
- Prevent using non-prescription antihistamines and decongestants due to the fact that they can make your symptoms even worse.
- Breathe through your nose, not your mouth.
- Include wetness to the air during the night with a space humidifier.
Saliva is very important to preserve the health of your teeth and mouth. If you often have a dry mouth, taking these steps to protect your oral health might also help your condition:
- Avoid sugary or acidic foods and beverages because they increase your risk of tooth decay.
- Brush with a fluoride tooth paste – ask your dental expert if you might gain from prescription fluoride toothpaste.
- Use a fluoride rinse or brush-on fluoride gel prior to bedtime. Occasionally a custom-fit fluoride applicator (made by your dental practitioner) can make this more reliable.
- Visit your dental expert at least two times annual to detect and treat dental caries or other dental problems.
If these actions do not improve your dry mouth, speak with your doctor or dental professional. The cause could be a medication or another condition. Medications are among the most common causes of dry mouth. Long-term remedy for your dry mouth might indicate stopping or changing your medication or its dose, or addressing underlying health problems.