Waking up with a dry mouth and a bad breath can be embarrassing and indicate some severe oral issues. If you want to understand why you are experiencing a dry mouth at night, the first step is to know the underlying causes. It’s possible to treat and prevent dry mouth in some cases, but other times the condition may become incurable. If you cannot eradicate it completely, several ways are present to help relieve the problems related to dry mouth.
What Is A Dry Mouth?
When your salivary glands stop producing the required saliva amount, you may end up with a dry mouth. Saliva has immense importance to your oral and overall health. It washes the food debris left after you enjoyed your meal, kills the bacteria, and rinses your mouth.
Some of the symptoms of dry mouth may include:
- sore throat: intensity may vary from person to person
- hoarseness
- difficulty swallowing
- burning sensation in your mouth
- nose dryness and nasal congestion
Dry mouth can result in:
- poor nutrition
- dental issues such as plaque, gum disease, and tooth loss
- psychological problems including depression, anxiety, stress
Some factors contributing to dry mouth can result in persistent dry mouth, while other factors may lead to temporary issues. Below are 5 causes of dry mouth at night.
1. Sleeping Habits
If you’re habitual of breathing with your mouth while you sleep, chances are you’ll wake up with a dry mouth. Sleeping with an open mouth will result in a dry mouth that can occur due to childhood habits, blocked nasal passages, or other health issues. Snoring and obstructive sleep apnea may also force you to breathe with your mouth and result in a dry mouth.
2. Aging
As you age, you may get closer to waking up with a dry mouth. Aging may not directly cause a dry mouth. It may be because of the medications you take to control other health issues. Aging itself may not be the cause of dry mouth. You may experience dry mouth as you age because of medications you take to manage other health conditions. Diabetes and Parkinson’s disease are some conditions that can cause dry mouth while sleeping.
3. Medications
Medications play a vital role in giving you a dry mouth at night. If your health condition requires you to take multiple pills at a time, you are more prone to dry mouth.
4. Diabetes
Being dehydrated or persistent high blood sugar levels may give you a dry mouth. Medication for diabetes can also lead to dry mouth while sleeping.
It’s possible to alleviate the risks of dry mouth by controlling your diabetes. You can consult your physician regarding this issue to see if changing any medication would minimize dry mouth.
5. Alcohol
Alcohol can dehydrate your body and lead to dry mouth. Moreover, it can result in issues with your teeth.
If you wish to learn more about dry mouth causes and ways to prevent it, contact the dental experts at Pasadena Oral Surgery. Give us a call at (281) 299 0053.