Do you keep a glass of water on your nightstand every night because you know you’ll wake up with dry mouth? Do you want to sip water several times in sleep? Can drinking water at night be a sign of sleep disorder like snoring, sleep apnea or other problems with your breathing in sleep?
Dry mouth is common condition that occurs in sleep. It is because your salivary glands do not produce enough saliva in sleep. Saliva keeps your mouth moist. Absence of saliva during night is uncomfortable and disturbs sleep.
Why will you want to drink water at night?
Our body has the ability to function for upto 8 hours or longer without interrupting sleep for drinking or eating. So there is no need to drink water at night!!!! But, most people want to drink water at night because their mouth goes dry. The condition of dry mouth is called Xerostomia. The condition can be mild to severe depending on the cause.
What are the causes of dry mouth in sleep?
Sleeping with your mouth open causes dryness of mouth. Most people breathe through their mouth in sleep. Mouth breathing can be triggered by
Obstruction of the nose
This can occur with colds, allergies, sinusitis or any structural defects like deviated septum or enlarged glands. Nose breathing is normal. With nasal breathing, the moisture from the inhaled air is retained. In mouth breathing the air dries us out quickly.
Snoring
Mouth breathing is associated with snoring. Snoring may also indicate other conditions like sleep apnea. The condition is worsened by sleeping on your back or alcohol use at or near bedtime. the need to drink water at night can hence indicate a breathing disorder.
Use of bite splint, dental retainers or other orthodontic appliances
Using CPAP mask
Wearing a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) mask for treatment of sleep apnea can cause dryness as air escaping with mouth breathing can worsen the situation.
Dry mouth can occur when the glands in the mouth that make saliva do not work properly. Some common causes include:
- Stress
- Certain medications
- Cancer therapy (radiation/chemotherapy)
- Autoimmune disorders such as Sjogren’s syndrome
- Medical conditions like diabetes
- Smoking
Additionally, all of these concerns can be exacerbated by a dry atmosphere induced by central heating or air conditioning. A dry or stuffy bedroom can also cause dry mouth. Some people find that humidifiers are useful in adding moisture to the bedroom air during sleep. In addition, you might try drinking a glass of water before going to bed to reduce the chance of dry mouth.
Typical symptoms of dry mouth at night include:
- Frequently waking up in the middle of night to drink water.
- Dry mouth on waking up in the morning.
- Dry lips and throat in the morning.
- Thick, stringy or foamy saliva in the morning.
- A constant sore throat.
- Burning or cracked tongue.
- Halitosis or bad breath.
When should I see my doctor?
If you feel a dry mouth every night then don’t ignore it. If your dry mouth is disturbing your comfort and quality of life, then discuss the issue with your health care provider. Together, you can come up with solutions to sort out your dry mouth and the negative effects that come with it.
If your dryness is mild or infrequent, you can try chewing on a gum containing Xylitol (sugar free gum), sucking on a sugarless mint, rinsing with a mouthwash or drinking a glass of water before bedtime. This should help you get rid of the problem. If the dryness is chronic or has begun after taking a medication, then make an appointment with your healthcare provider. Discuss the possibilities of dryness and the remedies.
Saliva is important in keeping your mouth moist. A dry mouth with reduced saliva can encourage the growth of bacteria tha t cause cavities and gum diseases. Visit your dentist and discuss your problems with dryness. Your dentist will check for any cavities or gum issues. He may prescribe a sailogogue, mouthwash or other medications for the dry mouth.
What can I do to prevent dry mouth?
There is no way of preventing mouth dryness without addressing the underlying cause. But you can do some lifestyle changes and home remedies for dry mouth. With these tips you can temporarily relieve the symptoms of a dry mouth.
- Make lifestyle changes. Anxiety can cause dry mouth. Practice yoga and meditation. Breathing exercise can help you calm down.
- Avoid spicy food that irritates your gut. Acidity and indigestion is another cause of dry mouth.
- Use a humidifier in your bedroom to improve the moisture content in the air.
- Avoid caffeinated drinks or alcohol in the evening as both these have a drying effect on your mouth.
- Quit smoking or other tobacco products.
- if you have a blocked nose, try using nasal strips or other nasal decongestants.
- Drink sufficient quantities of water through the day to keep yourself hydrated. You can have a glass go water before bedtime.
- Good oral hygiene care. Brushing , flossing and using a mouthwash regularly helps. Visit your dentist at regular intervals for follow ups.
- Chewing mint or parsley during the day.