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Dry Mouth At Night Might Indicate Other Health Issues

Everyone experiences an occasional bout of dry mouth at night. However, persistent dry mouth can make eating or talking pretty uncomfortable. What's more, the condition could be a sign of other health issues, according to the National Institute of Health. Left untreated, chronic dry mouth can lead to other health issues, such as tooth decay, gum disease, or oral thrush, according to the Mayo Clinic.

What causes dry mouth at night?

There are numerous reasons you might not have enough saliva. For many people, the problem comes down to not drinking enough water, says Matt Messina, D.D.S., a Cleveland-based dentist.

“The average American is dehydrated to some degree, which can cause or exacerbate dry mouth,” Dr. Messina previously told Men's Health.

Other causes include smoking, aging, and prescription medications, he says. In fact, more than six hundred medications can cause dry mouth, including prescriptions used to treat high blood pressure, depression, and bladder-control issues. You may experience dry mouth at night if you take your medications in the evening, reported Medical News Today.

In some cases, underlying medical conditions such as HIV/AIDs or diabetes can interfere with saliva production.

Dry mouth can be particularly bad at night for people who breathe through their mouths while sleeping. Mouth breathing generally happens when you have sinus or nasal septum problems, respiratory infections, or sleep apnea.

What are dry mouth symptoms?

Obviously, you'll experience that "cotton-mouth" feeling. But there are other symptoms outside of that that. According to the NIH, these include:

Stickiness in mouth

Trouble chewing, swallowing or talking

Burning

Cracked, dry lips

Bad breath

How do you treat dry mouth?

As with most health issues, proper treatment depends on the cause of your condition. For example, if a prescription changes saliva production, you'll want to talk to your doctor about adjusting dosage. If sleep apnea is the cause of dry mouth, you'll want to work with a doctor to treat that condition.

Dr. Messina recommends increasing water intake as your first step—particularly when drinking alcohol, which can also cause dry mouth.

Other easy solutions including chewing sugar-free gum, as well as cutting out tobacco, alcohol, and caffeine. Sleeping with a humidifier increases moisture in your room, which may alleviate dry mouth.

If nothing works, it's time to speak to your your dentist about using either an over-the-counter or prescription treatment—such as artificial saliva—says Jeff Burgess, D.D.S., a former clinical assistant professor at the University of Washington School of Dental Medicine.

“The best treatment really depends on the individual,” Dr. Burgess previously told Men's Health. “If dry mouth is bothering you, see someone about it.”

(12/13/2021)
by Melissa Matthews

More Information: https://www.menshealth.com/health/a33992898/dry-mouth-at-night/

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