Why do I often have dry mouth when sleeping at night?

Symptoms associated with dry mouth at night may include:

- Saliva is thicker and thicker

- Breath is smelly

- Taste changes

- It may be more difficult to chew or swallow than usual

- Sore throat

- Deep grooves appear on the tongue (grooved tongue)

- Caries.

In addition, if the mouth produces too little saliva, it can also promote the formation of plaque, thrush and canker sores.

1. Causes of dry mouth when sleeping at night

According to Medical News Today, below are some common causes that can cause a person to frequently have dry mouth at night:

- Natural variation in saliva production

According to a report in the journal Compendium, a person's salivary glands produce less saliva at night and as a result, they may notice a drier mouth in the evening.

To solve this condition, your doctor can prescribe mouthwashes that help keep your mouth moist and reduce the feeling of dry mouth while sleeping. Consider preparing an extra glass of water to keep next to your bed. Drinking a little water will also help reduce dry mouth when you wake up.

- Old

According to The WebMD, 1 in 5 older adults wake up with a dry throat and mouth. Older people often have dry mouth when sleeping at night due to dehydration or side effects of some medications.

In addition, poor diet and age-related health problems can also lead to dry mouth while sleeping.

- Side effects of medications

Dry mouth can also be a side effect of some medications, and the condition can be worse at night. These drugs can be: antihypertensive drugs, antihistamines, antidepressants, diuretics, some drugs to control Parkinson's disease, side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in cancer treatment.

What you need to do is talk to your doctor about any unusual symptoms you experience while taking the medication. Your doctor will consider reducing the dose or adjusting the time of taking it earlier. To reduce dry mouth caused by taking medication, you should also try taking medication with more water, chewing more gum to increase salivation, and using a humidifier to reduce the feeling of dry mouth when sleeping.

- Sleep apnea

This is a sleep disorder that affects your ability to breathe properly while you sleep. People with sleep apnea often tend to sleep with their mouth open and this easily causes a person to have a dry mouth when sleeping at night accompanied by loud snoring.

- Breathe through your mouth when sleeping

Similarly, if you have any medical condition that causes you to breathe through your mouth while sleeping, it can also lead to dry mouth when you wake up, such as nasal congestion, asthma, or respiratory infections. above, colds, allergic rhinitis,...

- Sjogren's syndrome

Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disorder that causes the body to attack the tear glands and saliva-producing glands. People with Sjogren's syndrome often feel dry mouth and it gets worse at night when salivary glands reduce secretion at night.

In addition to dry mouth, Sjogren's syndrome can cause other symptoms such as difficulty swallowing food without drinking water, mouth pain, speech problems at night, dry eyes, dry nose, dry throat or vaginal dryness.

- Nerve damage

Injuries or surgeries in the head and neck area can sometimes lead to nerve damage, which can unintentionally affect your ability to produce saliva.

- Gastroesophageal reflux disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a condition that causes stomach acid to flow back into the esophagus and these people often have dry mouth, dry throat and may feel like something is stuck in the throat.

Lying down can make reflux symptoms worse, which is why people with GERD may feel dry mouth and throat at night and when they wake up. To alleviate this, avoid eating at least 4 hours before going to bed and keep your pillow elevated when lying down.

- Diabetes

Diabetes can affect the way the body produces saliva. Some people with diabetes may experience dehydration and dry mouth while sleeping due to frequent urination or mouth inflammation or irritation.

2. Home remedies for dry mouth when sleeping at night

Here are some things you can do at home to relieve dry mouth at night:

- Drink enough water and avoid eating too much salty food, especially at dinner.

- Prepare a glass of water next to your bed in case you wake up at night and your mouth is dry.

- Monitor the amount of caffeine your body consumes during the day. If possible, try reducing the amount of caffeine consumed because caffeine can make dry mouth worse.

- Use a humidifier in the room at night to keep moisture in the air while you sleep.

- Try to consciously breathe through your nose, not your mouth.

- Try chewing sugar-free gum or sucking on sugar-free candy to increase saliva production.

- Consider using products such as toothpaste to treat dry mouth, artificial saliva or lozenges that stimulate salivation.

- Brush your teeth twice a day and use mouthwash, this helps you clean your teeth better and avoid cavities and bad breath.

- Avoid using mouthwashes that contain alcohol because alcohol can cause the oral cavity to become dry and easily irritated.

- Use caution when using over-the-counter antihistamines or decongestants.

- Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol.

Regarding medication to treat dry mouth when sleeping at night, depending on the cause, the doctor may prescribe medication or not.

3. When should I see a doctor?

If home remedies don't help relieve dry mouth at night, you should see your doctor for an accurate diagnosis. Especially if:

- Dry mouth does not improve even when using over-the-counter medications.

- Difficulty in eating, chewing and swallowing.

- Prolonged changes in taste.

- Caries.

- Bad breath does not go away.

- Mouth sores, mouth ulcers.

- Dry eyes.

- Urinating more often than usual.

- Sleep quality is affected.

In general, occasional dry mouth while sleeping at night is not usually a serious health problem, unless it occurs frequently. At this time, you need to see a doctor for appropriate diagnosis and treatment.