The hidden dangers women face in consuming alcohol
Perhaps you're not recovering lost water throughout the day from being in the heat or exercising, so you wake up dehydrated. It's also not unusual to become thirsty overnight.
One of the most glaringly obvious reasons why you could be waking up with a dry mouth is simple dehydration!
Make sure you're drinking enough water during the day to recapture fluids and keep some water next to your bed, just in case.
There are lots of reasons you might end up breathing through your mouth while sleeping. Allergies, a deviated septum, or temporary nasal congestion might change your default to mouth breathing.
There are several over-the-counter products available that can help with allergies or nasal congestion. Mouth taping at night can also encourage nasal breathing.
Another, more obvious cause of waking with a dry mouth is breathing through the mouth while you sleep. It's better to breathe through your nose.
This disruption means it's more difficult for the air to circulate. But it could also be sleep apnea, which is more serious.
If you wake up with a mouth that's completely parched, it could point to a problem with snoring. Disrupted airflow in the nose and mouth results in snoring.
Sleep apnea can be helped with a mask treatment called CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), which supports nasal airflow while sleeping.
If you suspect your medication is the culprit of your dry mouth, and its causing a lot of discomfort, get in touch with your healthcare provider to discuss alternatives.
Unfortunately, there are a large number of commonly prescribed medications that can cause dry mouth. Depending on the individual, the effects can be more severe.
Antihistamines, antipsychotics, antidepressants, high blood pressure meds, NSAID pain relief, sedatives, and muscle relaxants can all be culprits.
Sometimes, nothing leaves your breath feeling fresher than a swirl of your favorite mouthwash. However, many such products contain alcohol.
The alcohol in mouthwash can completely dry out your mouth, as it kills mouth bacteria that is involved in creating healthy saliva. Switch to an alcohol-free version if you can't part with it!
Sometimes, an underlying health condition might be causing your dry mouth upon waking. You shouldn't rule this out unless you've identified another factor.
You might need to adjust your lifestyle if high blood sugar is or has become an issue for you. Taking insulin, eating a balanced diet, and exercising can help with symptom management.
When hormones run wild, you can have a dry mouth when you wake up. Did you know it can indicate a pregnancy in some cases?
In this case, it's a temporary inconvenience that will go back to normal after you've given birth, when hormone levels stabilize again.
Problems with the salivary gland might cause your mouth to feel dry after sleeping. If there's a blockage somewhere, or you suffer with Sjögren's disease, having a dry mouth could be a daily sensation.
Some signs that your dry mouth upon waking is actually a salivary gland disorder are: difficulty opening the mouth; a persistent bad taste in the mouth; pain, weakness, or swelling around the face and mouth; a lump inside your mouth or next to the ear, cheek, jaw, or lip.
Smoking or drinking can lead to waking up with a mouth that feels furry and dry. Alcohol makes the body lose water, while smoking lowers your saliva production.
The high blood sugar of diabetes can make your mouth feel very dry. This is why increased thirst is an early warning sign of type II diabetes.
Perhaps it's obvious, but make it a part of your bedtime routine to keep a full bottle of water next to your bedside, in case you wake up and need immediate hydration.
If your dry mouth is caused by environmental factors, consider investing in a humidifier that you can run overnight to help re-moisturize the air.
Ice chips can be used to help your saliva production. Sucking on ice lozenges or chips before bed encourages new saliva to be made, helping to stop your mouth drying out overnight.
To help prevent waking up with dry mouth, you can take some simple steps. One is to avoid very spicy or salty food, especially before bedtime.
If you're a smoker who's suffering from dry mouth, perhaps it's time to bite the bullet and quite altogether. There are lots of resources to support your quitting journey.
While it's not unusual to experience a dry mouth upon waking for relatively harmless reasons, if it continues to occur, get in touch with your healthcare provider to rule out anything more serious taking place.
Sources: (Well + Good) (Healthline)
See also: Great ways to use eucalyptus oil
Add plenty of foods that have a high water content to your diet, to help with extra hydration. Foods like watermelon and cucumber are some of the best you can eat for this, but many fruits and vegetables contain plenty of water.
Curious? Click on to discover why you wake up with a dry mouth, and what to do about it if you do.
Reasons why you wake up with a dry mouth, and what to do about it
It can be a symptom of a bigger problem that needs your attention
HEALTH Oral health
Does your mouth feel like the desert when you wake up? It can be uncomfortable, and is sometimes accompanied by sore throat, chapped lips, and a bad taste. When your body doesn't produce enough saliva, it can lead to a condition of dry mouth, xerostomia. Saliva plays an important role in the body, by cleaning your mouth, killing bacteria, and helping wash away the food we eat. A lack of saliva in your mouth (hyposalivation) upon waking can indicate something you need to adjust in your waking behavior, or it could be the sign of something more serious.
Curious? Click on to discover why you wake up with a dry mouth, and what to do about it if you do.