Causes Of Dry Mouth At The Night

Saliva helps keep your mouth comfortable and healthy, but if you're experiencing persistent dry mouth that wakes you up at night, trouble speaking or tasting, unexplained dental issues, or a sticky, dry feeling in your mouth, it might be a sign of low salivary gland activity or dehydration. Dry sores, cracked lips, and hoarseness can also indicate the need for a closer look. If these symptoms sound familiar, consider consulting a healthcare provider for advice.

Medication

Some medications can cause excessively dry mouth in the patients. These may include medicines that are designed to dry out normally moist tissues, such as those for allergies and common antihistamines. Diuretic tablets used for treating hypertension and depression medications can also cause a dry mouth.

Chronic Diseases

Diabetes and cancer can cause your body to attack its salivary glands, and while salivary glands are not directly affected by strokes or Alzheimer's, dry mouth can occur in these states as well. Ironically, dry mouths in these cases can be further exacerbated by the medications taken to treat these conditions.

Dehydration

This is obvious. What is less obvious, though, is that you might get dehydrated without even realizing it. Not drinking enough water is not the only way your body can become dehydrated excessive sweating, fever, vomiting, blood loss, or even diarrhea can also cause dehydration and, hence, dry mouth.

Other factors

The diminished functioning of salivary glands can also cause dry mouth because of excessive consumption of alcohol, smoking, depression and anxiety, radiation and chemotherapy, and aging. Pregnant women and nursing mothers can also get dry mouths because of their hormonal changes. Below are some lifestyle improvement tips to provide a respite from the dry mouth at night:

Dry mouths not only cause irritation in the throat, but they can also cause sleep deprivation (as you wake up multiple times in the night because of thirst), and have serious health concerns. That said, it's seldom a critical condition and can be treated easily with the home remedies mentioned above. If, however, it persists, see your doctor immediately.

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