You can’t imagine going to bed without a water bottle beside your bed. The condition of dry mouth at night you are facing wakes you up mid-sleep to rehydrate your mouth. However, normally that’s not the case because a human can sleep for eight to six hours without hunger or thirst disturbing the sleep. Hence, why do you experience a dry mouth and an urge to drink water? Let’s discuss what dry mouth means and some underlying reasons behind it.
What Does Dry Mouth Mean?
You experience dry mouth when your mouth is running low on saliva. Saliva keeps your mouth hydrated and contains essential enzymes. These enzymes help in almost everything, from breaking down food to protecting your teeth. Therefore, low concentrations of saliva may have multiple impacts. For example, you may experience an increased buildup of plaque on your teeth.
The occurrence of dry mouth increases with age. It’s one of the most common issues faced by the elderly. By the age of 65, the saliva production clips down by 40 percent. Symptoms of permanent dry mouth at night include:
- Bad Breath.
- Thick and stringy saliva.
- Sore throat.
- Changes in senses of taste.
Why Do You Experience Dry Mouth During Nights?
There are a few underlying causes of dry mouth during nights. However, here we will discuss two primary reasons behind it.
Nasal Obstruction:
Naturally, you should breathe through your nose. However, at times the nasal passage is just blocked. Hence, your lungs decide to suck in the air using your oral cavities. This process, although essential for breathing, leaves your mouth dry. This is because passing in air sucks out the moisture from the soft tissue lining the oral cavity. Nonetheless, a major question remains, what causes nasal obstruction? This can be caused by allergies, cold, or structural deformities.
Medication:
Dry mouth is a usual side effect of many drugs. In fact, an estimated 60 percent of medicine that is prescribed has dry mouth as a side effect. More often, doctors advise us to take a particular medicine before going to bed. Thus, ingesting pills at night may lead you to experience dry mouth during the night. The medication for the following disorder may lead to dry mouth:
- Blood pressure.
- Antihistamine.
- Antidepressants.
- Anti-anxiety drugs.
Other Causes: Other than what we have discussed above, a few other disorders will also make you endure a dry mouth, such as:
- Diabetes.
- Chemotherapy.
- Radiation.
- Nerve damage.
- Alcohol use before going to bed.
Conclusion:
Persistent dry mouth can cause serious implications if you choose to ignore it. While you can try some home therapies like chewing sugar-free gum and drinking plenty of water, make sure to visit a dentist for guidance. Try to tell them everything about your lifestyle and medication for effective treatment. You can visit us for any of your oral issues or regular dental checkups. Moreover, you can also call Brookshire Smile Dental at 281-934-1010 for reservations and inquiries.