Those who suffer from dry mouth understand how frustrating of a condition it can be. It can interfere with your quality of life and it especially can interfere with getting a good night’s sleep. Dr.y mouth is quite common and known to most frequently occur at night. The condition is caused by a lack of saliva being produced by the salivary glands. The lack of saliva production leads to a lack of necessary moisture in the mouth. Your Irving dentist will stress the important role that saliva plays in the mouth, in keeping the acid and bacteria levels down and helping to prevent things like tooth decay and gum disease, as well as bad breath. Let’s take a closer look at the symptoms, causes and potential remedies for dry mouth.
Dr.y mouth: The Symptoms
If you are experiencing dry mouth at night you will likely notice some or all of the following symptoms:
- Waking up frequently to drink water
- Waking up feeling like you can’t get a breath through your mouth because it is so dry
- Dr.y chapped lips in the morning
- Dr.y scratchy throat in the morning
- A sore throat
- Bad breath
- Thick saliva in the morning
- A sore tongue
Dr.y mouth: The Causes
One of the most common reasons for a dry mouth at night is that of breathing through one’s mouth. The triggers to breathing through one’s mouth at night are usually due to one of the following reasons:
- Hardware for your mouth that you wear primarily at night such as bite splints, dental retainers, etc.
- A stuffy nose due to allergies or a cold (swollen tissues in the nose due to irritation)
- Sleep apnea and sleep apnea treatments such as a CPAP mask
- Other breathing troubles due to other conditions
- Dehydration, often from excessive consumption of alcohol or caffeine
How to help prevent dry mouth
There are a few steps you can take at home to help prevent excessive dry mouth at night. While the underlying cause often cannot be changed or controlled, try implementing these tactics to help prevent dry mouth:
- Place a humidifier in your room at night to help raise the moisture levels in the air
- Avoid consumption of caffeine and alcohol before you go to sleep
- Avoid the use of tobacco
- Avoid acidic or spicy foods in the evening
- Avoid eating too late
- Dr.ink more water
- Chew sugar free gum during the day
- Try nasal strips, nasal spray, or a menthol rub such as Vicks to help your breathing
- Ensure you are engaging in proper oral care such as brushing and flossing regularly
- Try the use of dry mouth sprays, mouthwash, toothpaste, and gum
Your oral health is immensely important and linked to the general health of your entire body. Make sure you are making your oral health a priority by regularly visiting your family dentist in Irving. Here at Cosmetic and Family Dentistry, we have a caring team of oral-health experts that want to help. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, contact us today.
