Dry mouth when sleeping is quite common and affects a good number of people. It can be quite frustrating, as it can cause a lot of discomfort when you wake up.
Saliva helps to naturally combat the acids and bacteria that deteriorate teeth, and cause periodontal diseases and bad breath. The absence of saliva during sleep is not only very uncomfortable. It can also negatively affect our rest and our oral health.
In this post, we want to identify the main causes of dry mouth and show you how you can enjoy a better quality of rest.
How Do I Know I Have Dry Mouth When Sleeping?
There are a number of symptoms that are quick pointers to dry mouth when we sleep.
- Waking up at intervals to drink water
- Waking up to dry mouth and feeling like you have sandpaper in your throat.
- Waking up to dry lips and dry throat.
- The saliva in your mouth is thick when you wake up.
- Difficulty chewing and swallowing upon waking
- Your throat itches when you swallow intensely.
- Your tongue feels irritated or cracked.
- You notice bad morning breath.
- You notice changes in your sense of taste first thing in the morning
What Causes Dry Mouth and Throat When Sleeping?
A dry mouth occurs when the salivary glands do not produce enough saliva to keep the mouth moist. There are several causes of dry mouth and throat when you sleep. The most common causes are discussed below.
Breathing Through The Mouth While Sleeping
This is probably one of the most common causes of dry mouth. It often occurs when your nose is blocked by a cold, or when you suffer from an allergy. Although it can also be due to reasons that require medical intervention to resolve, such as having large turbinates or a deviated septum.
Heating systems and Air conditioners
Heating systems and air conditioners often dry the air. If you use any of these in combination with breathing through the mouth while sleeping, it can especially worsen your symptoms.
Taking Medications With Dry Dry Mouth As A Side Effect
Some medications have side effects which include dry mouth and if you use any of these medications it is only expected that you have dry mouth. Examples include diuretics, anticholinergic drugs, some medications that help regulate blood pressure, peripheral edema in the feet, or medications that help treat heart failure. Other medications that can also cause dryness are antidepressants and some sleeping pills.
So if you take any of these drugs, it is best to check with your doctor to see if any of them may be causing a decrease in saliva secretion in the mouth.
Dehydration
This happens when your body contains less fluid than required. It is usually due to an imbalance between fluid intake and fluid loss. Dehydration is one of the common causes of dry mouth when sleeping.
It is advisable to drink enough water throughout the day to keep yourself hydrated. Also, you should drink even more when you perform exercises or if you have diarrhea.
Illnesses
Some certain illnesses have been found to cause dry mouth when sleeping. One popular example is Sjogren syndrome which is an autoimmune disorder. People with this illness can also experience dry mouth when sleeping.
Other illnesses that can cause dry mouth are diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, high blood pressure and hepatitis.
Stress
Stress can also make you have a dry mouth when you sleep. This is usually due to the fact that most people just want to rest after being stressed. Because of this, they forget to get hydrated.
Other Factors That Can Cause Dry Mouth
Some other common causes of reduced levels of saliva while sleeping are:
- Anxiety
- Tobacco smoking
- Smoking marijuana
- Increasing Age
- Thrush
Home Remedies for Dry Mouth
The good news is that in most cases, you can improve dry mouth while sleeping with simple home remedies and small lifestyle changes. Some of the most effective ways to combat dry mouth are:
1. Place A Glass Of Water Next To The Bed
It helps to have a glass of water handy. If having a dry mouth causes you to wake up at night to drink water, having a glass of water nearby will help your sleep not be so interrupted, this way as soon as you hydrate you will be able to fall asleep again..
2. Avoid Alcohol Mouthwashes
It is best to avoid mouthwashes that are alcohol-based. Check the components of your mouthwash carefully, since alcohol tends to dry out the mucous membranes.
3. Use a Suitable Pillow and Sleep in the right Position
Using the wrong pillow or a pillow that does not fit your needs can cause you to sleep with your mouth open and this can directly cause dry mouth when sleeping. For example, a pillow that is too high for you will cause you to snore, which causes your mouth to open.
This is why it is very important that you check your pillow, the material, the height, and your posture when resting.
Sleeping Position can also be a problem, especially for people who suffer from snoring and sleep apnea who sleep on their back. The most appropriate sleeping position that helps to reduce open mouth is sleeping on your side.
If you want to choose a quality pillow for a good night's sleep, we recommend browsing through our listing of high-comfort pillows and choosing the size that works best for you.
4. Get a humidifier
You probably don't realize it, but the environment in your bedroom could be drier than recommended. As we have mentioned previously, air conditioning systems can cause the environment and air to be drier than normal. The use of a humidifier helps create an optimal balance of humidity in the air just as you need, and this is of many benefits.
5. Breathe Through Your Nose
If you breathe through your mouth without having any problems that require medical treatment or any obstruction, try to improve your breathing habits by working on breathing through your nose when you are awake.
Also, many people are not aware that they breathe through their mouths when they sleep. You should pay attention to the pointers mentioned at the beginning of this article if you are not sure you breathe through your mouth while you sleep.
Consciously try to breathe through your nose while you are awake to build this habit.
6. Control Caffeine Intake
Caffeine, in excess, can dry out the mucous membranes, and therefore the mouth. Try to control your caffeine consumption and find out what time of the afternoon it is most harmful to you. Maybe that mid-afternoon coffee is causing dry mouth while you sleep.
7. Eat Sugar-Free Candies or Gum
Sugar-free gum and candies help increase saliva secretion and therefore, keep the mouth more hydrated.
8. Limit or Eliminate Tobacco From Use
Tobacco is one of the biggest causes of dry mouth when sleeping so limiting its consumption or even eliminating it completely will help this symptom disappear.
In addition, tobacco use is very harmful to health. So try to reduce its consumption, and even completely eliminate it from your habits if possible.
Other Treatments for Dry Mouth
Home remedies are usually very useful in preventing dry mouth when sleeping. However, they are not always effective and you might need to go a step further. Other ways to stop dry mouth when sleeping include:
Medications
Some medications like salivary stimulants can help to prevent dry mouth when sleeping. However, it’s best to consult a physician before using them because they come with certain side effects.
Also, medications can also be used to treat certain medical conditions that cause dry mouth when sleeping. Prescription should also be done by a doctor.
Artificial Saliva
This can be used when there is no relief after trying different methods. Saliva substitutes are produced in the form of gel or mouthwash. Also, different products are used differently and you may need to check with the manufacturer for correct usage.
Acupuncture
This is not entirely proven as effective. However, some professionals believe it can stimulate saliva production and can be used to treat dry mouth.
When To See A Doctor?
Not all causes of dry mouth can be tackled with home remedies or even medications. Some people experience severe symptoms which can even interfere with their daily schedule. If you can relate to this, it is important to see your doctor.
Also, people with medical conditions should consult a physician who can in turn help with complete treatment of the condition. A physician can also prescribe medications to reduce the symptoms of a dry mouth
Conclusion
At EgoHome, we recommend that if you regularly experience dry mouth while sleeping and the symptoms do not disappear during the day, you should consult with your doctor to rule out possible causes that require more specific treatment.
