Dry Mouth While Sleeping — What Causes It? How Can It Be Prevented?

Do you often wake up with a dry mouth in the morning? Not only can this issue be uncomfortable, but you may have bad breath and an increased risk of oral health problems to go along with it! What can cause your mouth to dry out while sleeping, and is there anything you can do to prevent this problem? This blog post shares some helpful information.

Possible Causes of Nighttime Dry Mouth

Some possible causes of dry mouth while sleeping include:

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): This condition can cause you to breathe through your mouth, which can lead to dryness in your oral cavity.
• Dehydration: Not drinking enough water throughout the day can result in a dry mouth at night.
• Side effects of medications: Many medications, such as antihistamines and antidepressants, can reduce saliva production.
• Health conditions: Certain illnesses, such as Sjögren’s syndrome, can cause chronic dry mouth.
• Alcohol and caffeine consumption: Both of these substances can have dehydrating effects, thereby worsening dry mouth symptoms.
• Poor oral health: Inadequate brushing and flossing can lead to bacterial growth, which can dry out the mouth.
• Diabetes: Diabetes may contribute to increased urination (and therefore dehydration), as well as reduced saliva production.

What Can You Do?

Here are some practical tips that may help you to avoid a dry mouth during sleep:

• Explore treatment options for sleep apnea: If you believe you have OSA, talk to a qualified care team about getting diagnosed and receiving treatment. Devices are available that may help you breathe through your nose, which can reduce dry mouth symptoms.
• Sip on water throughout the day: You may find it beneficial to replace other beverages (such as those that contain a lot of sugar, alcohol, or caffeine) with plain water.
• Adjust your medications: You may need to talk to your primary care provider about any medications that are causing unpleasant side effects.
• Visit your general dentist: Your dentist can assist you with oral hygiene challenges and can help with managing Sjögren’s syndrome, as well as other conditions that can contribute to dry mouth.
• Manage your diabetes. If you have diabetes, you may need to adjust your diet or lifestyle in order to keep your blood sugar levels within a healthy range.

A dry mouth is a highly unpleasant problem! Seek to identify its cause so you can take steps to find relief.

Meet the Practice

Dr. Kenneth Mogell is a double board-certified sleep dentist. He works alongside Dr. Yitta Garden and our team to provide effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. If you have been suffering from snoring, dry mouth, tiredness, and other OSA symptoms, we are ready to advise you on your next steps. Get in touch with any of our locations or call our Melbourne, FL, office at 321-265-3462.