Dry Mouth at Night

Dry mouth occurs when the saliva glands that release saliva and keep the mouth moist get damaged. In other words, the saliva glands are not in a position to function normally. This often leads to insufficient production of saliva which causes extreme mouth dryness. Dry mouth is a sensation that many a time occurs at night. People experiencing dry mouth signs at night wake up in the morning with a feeling that they have traveled the desert without water for days.

Dry mouth condition can have a negative impact on the quality of life. In this condition, the tongue becomes dry, swollen and red. The body is unable to produce saliva needed to swallow and digest food properly. Saliva also has the ability to naturally stop bacterial growth in the mouth. Therefore, decrease in the amount of saliva can lead to gum diseases, tooth decay and bad breath. Nowadays, occurrence of dryness in mouth at night has become common among many people. A recent survey revealed that dry mouth syndrome is observed in 30% of adults in the United States. People with dry mouth do not experience the correct taste of food, and have metallic taste in the mouth. Their ability to taste food properly decreases considerably. Some people experience a sour taste in the mouth at night, which is one of the symptoms of dry mouth.

Dry Mouth Reasons

Dry mouth at night that brings bad taste in mouth and restricts the secretion of saliva can occur due to several reasons. Dry mouth at night is indeed annoying as it often causes cracked lips, difficulty in speaking and swallowing. Also, dry mouth is likely to alter sense of taste. Experiencing symptoms of dryness in mouth at night may be due to the following:

Unhygienic Habits: Smoking has been linked to increased incidence of the dry mouth condition. Smoking negatively affects the production of saliva which can cause dry mouth symptoms at night. Chewing of tobacco in any form can also make the mouth dry. Excessive consumption of caffeine or caffeinated beverages can also cause dry mouth. Excess intake of tea, coffee and alcohol are the other contributory factors responsible for causing dry mouth.

Diseases: Studies have revealed that certain diseases can significantly reduce the release of saliva in the mouth. These illnesses listed below hamper the ability of salivary glands to produce saliva in adequate amounts.

• Alzheimer
• Diabetes
• Anemia
• HIV/AIDS
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Parkinson's Disease

Poorly controlled diabetes can have a negative impact on the salivary gland function. Health complications in uncontrolled diabetes are common. Abnormally high blood sugar triggers nerve damage, which can lead to glandular dysfunction. On the other hand, in both Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, specific nerve cells located in the brain suffer from irreparable damage. As nerves cells are crucial for maintaining salivary gland function, their damage may cause dry mouth.

Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy drugs used in the treatment of cancer can also contribute to dry mouth. Basically, these drugs can cause malfunctioning of the salivary glands as well as impair healthy cells present in the mouth. This will result in less production of saliva. Radiation therapy that specifically targets the head or neck can also impair the functionality of salivary glands and cause dry mouth.

Medications: Mouth becoming dry at night can also occur as a side effect of certain medicines. It has been estimated that 400 prescription as well as non-prescription drugs can give rise to the dry mouth condition. However, particularly medicines used to treat health problems like diarrhea, asthma, hypertension and cold, can also interfere with saliva production. Millions of people today use beta-blockers and diuretics which can also reduce saliva production, eventually causing dryness in mouth. Other medications that are found to negatively affect the functioning of salivary glands are as follows:

• Antidepressants
• Decongestants
• Antihistamines
• Muscle relaxants
• Painkillers

Aging: With increase in age, the likelihood of suffering from dry mouth also increases. This is because, with age, the capacity of salivary glands to work efficiently also diminishes. But aging is not the only factor that causes dry mouth. Many a time, older people are taking medications that can be one of the dry mouth reasons. Also, older people suffer from a host of ailments that can result into dry mouth.

Nerve Impairment: An injury or a trauma such as an accident that inflicts damage to the head or neck can trigger the dry mouth condition. This is because such injuries often impair the functioning of the parotid gland which controls the working of salivary glands. This causes glandular dysfunction which results into reduced production of saliva.

Dehydration: As we all know, dehydration causes considerable loss of water from the body. A person may dehydrate due to a number of reasons such as physical exertion or even health problems like diarrhea, vomiting and kidney failure.

Salivary Gland Stones: When salivary glands are itself blocked due to formation of stones, the saliva is unable to enter the mouth. Basically, the salivary glands are found below the jaw, in the cheeks and the front of the ears. The saliva from the salivary gland passes down to the salivary duct (tubes that connect the salivary gland to the mouth) and eventually reaches the mouth. Thus, the ducts help to empty the salivary gland but if stones (mineral deposits) develop in the salivary duct, flow of saliva gets obstructed. Thus, the salivary gland or salivary duct stones that are usually made up of calcium can also cause dry mouth. Pain and swelling in the area where the salivary gland is located, is one of the most common symptoms of large salivary gland stones. A physical injury that damages the salivary gland and intake of medications that regulate blood pressure are some of the factors responsible for causing salivary gland stones.

Dry Mouth at Night While Sleeping

Many people suffer from dry mouth syndrome while asleep. In many cases, dry mouth syndrome disrupts normal sleep. When these people wake up, they experience discomfort due to excessive dry mouth. In order to get immediate relief from the uncomfortable sensation of the mouth, drinking water in the middle of the night remains the only option. Recent studies show that snoring while sleeping can contribute to dry mouth. Excessive or loud snoring while sleeping can cause mouth dryness. Many people fall asleep, keeping their mouth open. This activity of breathing with mouth open can also make the mouth unusually dry.

Dry Mouth at Night Treatment

There are plenty of ways to relieve the uncomfortable sensation of dry mouth. However, it is necessary to first determine the root cause of dry mouth symptoms at night. Medications causing this problem will have to be either discontinued or the doctor may ask to reduce the dosage. Dry mouth during pregnancy can also occur, and is a great nuisance for pregnant women. In general, following are the remedies for this medical problem:

Water: An inexpensive way to reduce mouth dryness is to drink 8 glasses of water daily. Drinking sufficient water is an easy way to treat as well as prevent this mouth disorder at night. Or else, sipping water frequently during the day to preserve moisture in the mouth can also help to ease dryness. An increase in fluid intake is one of the best solutions to the dry mouth syndrome.

Chewing Gum: Sugarless chewing gums are also effective to stimulate saliva production. Hard mint-flavored candies can improve the saliva flow in the mouth. Increasing the saliva production may also help to dislodge the stones from the salivary ducts.

Toothpaste: There are toothpastes available in the market specially designed to relieve dry mouth. These toothpastes contain ingredients like Biotene that restrict the growth of odor-causing bacteria and prevent formation of plaque. It is clinically proven that these toothpastes can work wonders to combat dryness in mouth.

Medicines: Doctors may also recommend certain medicines to rectify the functioning of salivary glands. These medicines can help to get rid of dry mouth problem.

Vitamin E Oil: This oil is considered to be the best cure for dry mouth. Break open a vitamin E oil capsule and then spread the oil uniformly on the tongue and inside the mouth before going to bed at night. This way, one can preserve moisture in the mouth. Use of flaxseed and sunflower oil in a similar way can also be helpful to cure this mouth problem occurring at night.

Change in Diet: People suffering from dry mouth should avoid salty or spicy foods, as these foods are notorious for worsening the condition. Dry mouth sufferers should intentionally avoid intake of drinks that contain caffeine (tea, coffee and chocolate containing drinks) or alcohol. The body loses water rapidly with the intake of alcohol and caffeine which may cause dehydration, leading to dryness in mouth. Intake of acidic beverages such as apple, tomato and orange juice also have to be avoided. Dry mouth at night, one of the symptoms of diabetes can also cause mouth ulcers. A person with dry mouth may not be able to enjoy his favorite dish. Dryness in the mouth can become a potent source of oral infection. Therefore, proper and timely treatment is the best solution to prevent the consequences of dry mouth at night.