Constant dry mouth – causes. Dryness at night, in the morning, after eating. Why does my mouth get dry at night? Features of the clinical picture

Dry mouth at night is a problem that affects many people. This occurs when the salivary glands are unable to produce enough fluid to keep the mouth moist. Saliva helps fight bacteria and acids, which are known to contribute to the development of gum disease, tooth decay, and bad breath.

In medicine, insufficient salivation and dry mouth are called xerostomia.

Thus, a lack of saliva in the mouth can be very uncomfortable and can also disrupt normal sleep and negatively affect your oral health. The article discusses the causes of dry mouth at night, such as diabetes, stress, frequent urination, pregnancy, as well as information on home remedies that can be used to control the problem and other treatment options.

Associated symptoms

Halitosis (bad breath)
Regularly waking up in the middle of the night to drink water
burning or
Dry mouth after waking up
Constantly dry throat
Dry lips after waking up
Foamy, thick, viscous saliva in the morning.

Causes

It is normal for a person to sometimes experience dry mouth. This happens mainly when he is nervous, or when the body is dehydrated. But the persistent problem of dryness should not be taken lightly as it could be a sign of some health condition.

The problem occurs when the salivary glands are unable to produce enough saliva due to dehydration, which is a common occurrence when a person does not consume the required amount of fluid.

Dry mouth can also be caused by the following factors:

Sjögren's syndrome is a condition during which the salivary glands are attacked and damaged by the immune system
Medications – Various types of medications can cause dry mouth at night. These include diuretics, antihistamines and antidepressants. You should study the instructions to determine whether this problem is a side effect of taking the medicine.
Nasal congestion - breathing through the mouth during sleep can cause the mucous membrane to dry out
Radiation therapy - such exposure to the neck and head can cause inflammation of the salivary glands.
Diabetes is a disease that is known to cause blood sugar levels to rise to extreme levels. In this case, an important additional symptom is severe thirst.

It is necessary to inform your physician or dentist about the observed symptoms. They will help you understand why you are experiencing dry mouth.

Consequences

Saliva plays a very important role in the mouth and ensures that the mouth remains healthy. Having dryness can cause additional problems, such as:

Difficulty swallowing, eating, or speaking
Soreness or burning in the mouth
Caries and gum disease
Dry lips
Recurrent mouth infection such as thrush
Bad breath
Decreased sense of taste.

Diabetes

Saliva is an important component in the mouth as it helps balance acidity levels. It also washes away acid from around your gums and teeth. People suffering from diabetes are known to experience dry mouth at night.

The following symptoms may also be observed:

Oral candidiasis (thrush)
Inflammation of the gums, known as gingivitis
Irritation in the corners of the mouth.

Symptoms of thrush include cracking at the corners of the lips, redness of the tongue, and white patches in the mouth. A diabetic can reduce the impact of this condition by:

Frequent use of lip balm to protect against irritation
Controlling your blood sugar levels within the recommended range
Using an alcohol-free mouthwash or gel
Cleaning dentures or braces after meals
Trying to maintain a sufficient level of water in the body throughout the day. You may need to carry water with you at all times.

Pregnancy

The problem is very common in the first trimester of pregnancy. It tends to get worse at night and may be accompanied by additional symptoms such as:

Metallic taste
Stuffy, dry nose
Stomach upset
Chapped lips
Hot flashes
Headache.

These signs and symptoms may be due to various metabolic and hormonal changes that occur in the body during pregnancy.

Pregnancy-Related Causes of Dry Mouth

Use of certain medications
Increased blood volume. This forces the kidneys to process more fluid. The end result is dry mouth and frequent urination
Gestational diabetes
Increased metabolic rate. This causes intense sweating, which leads to increased loss of fluid from the body.
Dehydration due to lack of fluid.

Menopause

Menopause causes significant hormonal changes in women. A decrease in estrogen levels leads to a decrease in the amount of moisture in the mucous membranes. This is the reason why a woman is likely to experience dry eyes and mouth.

Salivary cortisol also increases during menopause. The estrogen hormone regulates cortisol during the day before the menopause phase begins. Decreased estrogen levels mean a weakening of the limiting factor.

Therefore, there will be a burning sensation and dry mouth. You can reduce some menopausal symptoms by taking hormone replacement therapy. However, administration of progesterone may worsen symptoms.

Dry mouth while sleeping

Xerostomia can be caused by many factors. But lack of sufficient moisture during sleep is mainly caused by snoring or sleeping with your mouth open. Other factors that may play a role in the problem include:

Side effects of taking medications
Stress.

According to the American Dental Association, more than four hundred prescription and over-the-counter medications can cause dry mouth. Frequent occurrence of this problem should be addressed by a professional, regardless of its cause. The mouth requires sufficient supplies of saliva, even during sleep.

Dryness at night and frequent urination

Dry mouth and frequent urination are considered the most common symptoms of diabetes. Blood sugar levels may begin to drop when a person starts taking diabetes medications, insulin, or when their diet changes. This happens because some of the glucose will find its way into the body's cells.

This means that it will not be in the blood, which will lead to the disappearance of these symptoms. Failure to comply with this condition will mean that they will begin to appear again.

Panic attacks at night

Nighttime panic attacks create a lot of anxiety. Among other things, this may be accompanied by a feeling of dry mouth, causing discomfort. The mouth feels sticky when the salivary glands cannot produce enough saliva.

You may also feel like your mouth is not clean. Chewing and swallowing may become worse over time. It is important to see your dentist if you regularly suffer from dry mouth and nighttime anxiety as this can be very harmful.

The problem may in some sense be caused by feelings of anxiety. Symptoms of this condition are likely to flare up each time you have a panic attack and then go away. Stress and anxiety can reduce the amount of saliva in your mouth.

Very dry mouth at night

The reason may be:

Age: Dry nights are not a natural part of aging, but a person is likely to take more medications as they get older. Many of these drugs may have side effects.
Playing or exercising in the heat: The salivary glands become dry as body fluids will be concentrated in other areas. If you continue this activity, you will experience severe dry mouth and thirst.
Cancer treatment: Radiation therapy causes inflammation of the salivary glands. Chemotherapy can also change the nature of saliva, as well as the amount that the body produces.
Dehydration: due to the inability to consume enough fluids.
Surgery or injury: Injury to the neck or head can lead to this problem.
Tobacco use: Smoking or chewing tobacco increases the chances of developing dry mouth.

Treatment

It is necessary to determine what is causing this problem before trying to get rid of it. The cause must be identified for proper treatment. To reduce dry mouth, you need:

Use a humidifier at night
Chewing gum to stimulate saliva flow (sugar-free)
Use your nose to breathe, not your mouth
Limit the amount of caffeine consumed per day
Change to other decongestants or antihistamines (in consultation with your doctor)
Do not use mouthwash that may contain alcohol as this is one of the causes of dryness.
Try a mouthwash designed for this problem
Stop using tobacco products
Drink water frequently.

Home Remedies

Increase fluid intake

Dehydration is the main cause of this condition. Increasing your fluid intake ensures that the body remains hydrated at all times. Proper hydration ensures that the body is able to produce enough saliva to relieve all symptoms associated with dryness at night.

Eat liquid foods, such as soups and stews
Drink the required amount of water daily
Drink herbal teas, such as chamomile and green tea
Include vegetable and fruit juices and cocktails in your diet
Take 1-2 glasses of coconut water daily.

Red pepper

Many people wake up due to the discomfort that occurs when their mouth becomes dehydrated. Saliva secretion (salivation) decreases during sleep. The sleeper opens his mouth slightly, and the mucous membrane dries out. But dry mouth at night is also caused by more serious reasons - insufficient production of saliva, changes in its composition and receptor sensitivity, disturbances in the trophism of the mucous membrane, and intoxication of the body.

If the symptom repeats systematically and does not go away after sleep, it is necessary to undergo an examination and find out why the oral cavity is dry at night. Decreased salivation (xerostomia) is not an independent disease, but indicates the presence of other diseases that are hidden.

A lack of secretion from the salivary glands, in addition to a feeling of dryness and tightness in the mouth, causes pain, burning of the tongue and throat, redness, and slight swelling. Cracks form in the corners of the lips and on the tongue. With a long-term decrease in saliva secretion, a white coating appears on the tongue, the gum tissue becomes inflamed, and erosions and ulcers form on the mucous membrane. Cavities and bad breath may appear. A dry tongue creates a favorable environment for the development of inflammatory processes.

The severity of symptoms depends on the severity of the underlying disease. In the mildest stage, the feeling of discomfort is insignificant, the lining of the mouth is poorly moisturized. In the second degree, the mucous membranes and tongue become very dry, and you constantly feel thirsty at night. At the third stage, severe pain appears, and foci of inflammation are noticeable on the mucous membrane.

Etiology of xerostomia

Drying of the mucous membrane is caused by various reasons. Some of them are associated with pathologies in the body that require treatment. Others arise due to habits, lifestyle, and external factors. It is easy to relieve such symptoms on your own and get rid of unpleasant sensations.

Physiological and household factors:

Lack of moisture in the room.
Dry air dries out the oral mucosa.
Excessive alcohol consumption.
Intoxication of the body occurs. Internal organs use more water to flush out toxins, which contributes to dehydration and causes dry mouth at night.
Impaired nasal breathing.
With a runny nose, deviated nasal septum, or polyps, a person breathes through his mouth at night. During sleep, saliva dries out.
Smoking.
The action of nicotine reduces the secretion of the salivary glands.
Age.
In old age, salivation decreases. Tightness in the mouth is especially felt at night and in the morning after waking up.
Taking certain medications.
Diuretics, antidepressants, blood pressure medications, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and first-generation antihistamines can reduce salivation.
Snore.

Injures the mucous membrane and increases irritation. When breathing through the mouth, the mucous membrane dries out.
Salty foods, insufficient water intake, and drug or food poisoning can temporarily disrupt the functioning of the body and cause a dry throat and tongue at night. During menopause and pregnancy, changes occur in the hormonal sphere, which affect the condition of the entire body.

Diseases that are accompanied by xerostomia

Dry mouth is often a secondary symptom of many physical diseases. It is accompanied by symptoms that indicate deviations from the norm. To the lack of saliva secretion are added: frequent urination, thirst, nausea, dizziness, bitterness in the mouth.

Pathological causes of dry mouth at night:

Sialadenitis (inflammation of the salivary gland);
Diabetes;
Chronic rhinitis;
Diseases of the digestive system (gastritis, pancreatitis, duodenitis);
Brain diseases (trigeminal neuritis, Alzheimer's disease);
Hypertension;
Rheumatoid arthritis;
Mumps;
Schergen's syndrome;
Oncological diseases of the salivary glands;
Polyps in the nasal cavity.

Lack of secretion of the salivary glands at night can manifest itself occasionally after stress, in diseases that occur with an increase in body temperature. If a specialist diagnoses a disease, the underlying pathology is treated first. After getting rid of the disease, salivation will be restored.

Diagnostics

If you experience a feeling of dry mouth at night, you should consult a therapist, who, after an examination and based on the results of clinical tests, will refer you to a specialist. The diagnosis is made after assessing the functionality of the salivary glands. Additionally, sialography is prescribed (x-ray examination of the excretory ducts after filling them with a contrast agent).

Important!
With a long-term decrease in the amount of saliva, the protective functions of the mucous membrane decrease, which increases the risk of developing chronic tonsillitis, gum disease, and fungal stomatitis.

Treatment methods

To eliminate the causes of dry mouth at night associated with pathology, treatment of the underlying disease and drugs to normalize the functioning of the salivary glands are prescribed. To relieve symptoms, artificial moistening of the mucous membrane is carried out with saliva substitutes in the form of a gel or spray Hyposalix, Aquoral, Salivart.

Drugs that increase the resistance of the mucous membrane to irritants and local anti-inflammatory drugs are used. To treat complicated snoring, which causes severe drying of the mouth at night, laser radiation and CPAP therapy are used.

How to help yourself

To compensate for tissue dehydration, you need to drink more herbal teas based on chamomile, mint, apple and orange juice throughout the day. Moisturize the oral cavity with an isotonic sodium chloride solution or Lakalut Flora rinse, which contains olive oil. Rinse liquid "Bioten with calcium" eliminates dryness and destroys bacteria.

If your mouth gets dry at night, place a glass of water with lemon juice or herbal tea by your bed. Suck on a piece of ice or a sugar-free candy before bed. During sucking, the secretion of saliva is activated.

Softening the mucous membrane with pharmaceutical and home remedies will help get rid of the unpleasant symptom. You can treat your tongue and oral cavity with olive oil, sea buckthorn oil, and an oil solution of vitamin A. Metrogil-denta ointment will remove plaque on the tongue and eliminate unpleasant odor.

Increased salivation is stimulated by lemon, pineapple, grapefruit, cranberry juice, and red hot pepper added to food.

Inhalations, which are preferably carried out before bedtime, will help eliminate dry mouth. You can breathe over herbal mixtures of chamomile, calendula, mint, and lemon balm. Inhalation with Karavaev’s balm “Vitaon” stimulates the process of salivation. The product consists of extracts of medicinal plants, camphor, and orange oil dissolved in olive oil. For inhalation, 15 drops of the oil mixture must be dissolved in a liter of hot water at 50-60 °C. Breathe for 5-7 minutes.

The duration of therapy for xerostomia depends on the underlying disease and the degree of dysfunction of the salivary glands. If dry mouth at night is caused by physiological factors, treatment at home helps to quickly get rid of the painful symptom.

How to prevent your mouth from drying out at night

In most cases, drying out of the mucous membrane to a desert state can be prevented if:

Drink at least 2 liters of water;
Humidify the room;
Avoid alcohol and salty foods in the evening;
Do not use mouth rinses containing alcohol;
Avoid chronic diseases of the nose and paranasal sinuses;
Breathe exclusively through your nose. Take measures to normalize breathing and prevent snoring.

Note!
If you experience frequent and prolonged symptoms of dry mouth at night, do not self-medicate. Make an appointment with a specialist to identify the cause and adequate treatment.

List of used literature:

Zepelin H. Normal age related changes in sleep // Sleep Disorders: Basic and Clinical Research / ed. by M. Chase, E. D. Weitzman. - New York: SP Medical, 1983.
Foldvary-Schaefer N., Grigg-Damberger M. Sleep and epilepsy: what we know, don’t know, and need to know. // J Clin Neurophysiol. - 2006
Poluektov M.G. (ed.) Somnology and sleep medicine. National leadership in memory of A.N. Vein and Ya.I. Levina M.: “Medforum”, 2016.

Whatever the causes of dry mouth, whatever diseases this symptom indicates, it always deserves attention. After all, dry mouth is associated with a lack of saliva production. And this deficiency can lead to digestive problems, dental ailments, fungal diseases, etc.

A lack of saliva also significantly impairs the quality of life, as it makes it difficult to chew and swallow food and changes the taste of foods. Can lead to bad breath, which often negatively affects interpersonal relationships.

Lack of saliva manifests itself in different ways. Moreover, sometimes a person may experience just dryness, supplemented by other symptoms. And sometimes other sensations will prevail. And he doesn’t even immediately realize that he is suffering from insufficient salivation.

Symptoms and signs of dry mouth include:

feeling of tongue stickiness;
thick, as if fibrous, saliva;
halitosis;
difficulty chewing food;
problems swallowing bolus (dysphagia);
problems with speech, especially fast and loud;
dryness and sore throat;
hoarseness;
dryness of the tongue, which becomes rough, often grooves and ulcers appear on it;
burning in the mouth;
intolerance to salty, sour and spicy foods;
problems with wearing dentures;
chapped lips;
problems with applying lipstick (it sticks to your teeth all the time);
inflammatory gum diseases;
tooth decay.

Many people primarily complain of dry mouth at night or in the morning. It `s naturally. Since during sleep, saliva production always decreases.

Causes

Natural age-related changes

Dry mouth in the morning, at night and throughout the day is normal in older people. Since the activity of the salivary glands decreases with age . This is an inevitable consequence of the aging of the body.

Taking medications

The causes of dry mouth are not always associated with some disease or old age. Often this problem is caused by taking medications. Saliva production is especially strongly affected by:

antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs;
antihypertensive drugs;
antihistamines;
countercurrent agents;
muscle relaxants;
painkillers;
drugs used to treat Alzheimer's disease;
methamphetamine.

Activities and medications used to treat cancer can also cause persistent dry mouth. Sometimes, after completing a course of chemotherapy or radiotherapy, saliva production returns to normal, but sometimes the problem of dryness remains forever.

Diseases

Problems with saliva production can occur due to damage to the nerves that supply the salivary glands due to injury or surgery. And also due to a stroke, when the center of the brain that regulates salivation is affected.

Diabetes. This disease is characterized not only by dry mouth, but also by constant thirst.
Fungal infections of the oral cavity.
Alzheimer's disease.
Sjögren's syndrome.
HIV AIDS.
Osteoporosis, especially in women during menopause.
Gallbladder problems. Including ordinary dyskinesia of the biliary tract. In this case, dry mouth usually complements the bitterness.
Like, dry mouth mucous membranes can be caused by acid reflux.

Often the problem with salivation occurs due to nervousness. She is a character for anxious, suspicious people, those who suffer from VSD. Moreover, in this case, a decrease in saliva production can be caused by both the use of anti-anxiety medications and increased mouth breathing, dehydration, acid reflux - that is, all those conditions that are characteristic of people who are in constant anxiety.

Mouth breathing is a common cause of dry mouth. And it is typical not only for anxious people, but also for those who suffer from chronic rhinitis, snore or play intense sports. All these people are at risk of decreased salivation.

Tobacco and alcohol

The cause of constant dryness and bitterness in the mouth is often tobacco smoking. And also drinking alcohol. Moreover, alcohol does not have to be introduced into the body in the form of alcoholic beverages. Often, prolonged use of mouth rinses containing alcohol leads to a decrease in salivation and drying of the oral mucous membranes.

How to get rid of dry mouth?

Truly effective treatment of insufficient salivation can only be performed when the cause of the problem is precisely found and therapy for the underlying disease is prescribed. Obviously, if dry mouth in the morning is associated with high blood sugar, then the methods of eliminating this symptom will be different from those that will help increase salivation during anxiety.

Therefore, there are no universal treatment methods. However, there are general guidelines for moisturizing the mucous membranes of the mouth that are beneficial for all people.

Introducing a sufficient amount of fluid into the body. At least 2000 liters daily.
Drinking water at the same time as eating. It is very advisable, especially for older people, to take small pieces into the mouth and wash down each of them with a sip of any non-alcoholic drink. It's good to use natural bone broth.
Avoiding completely dehydrated dry foods that cause your mouth to feel dry, such as crackers. If such products are nevertheless included in the diet, then they must be washed down with plenty of liquid at the very moment of consumption.
Prevent mouth breathing. This task is difficult. Since to solve it you need to get rid of a runny nose and snoring. Normalize your mental state.
Using humidifiers. It is especially useful to use before bed to prevent dry mouth at night and in the morning.
Avoid mouth rinses containing alcohol.
Including foods that enhance saliva production in your diet. These products include:

apples;
cucumbers;
fresh carrots;
Cayenne pepper;
fennel;
ginger.

How serious is the problem of dry mouth?

Quite serious.

Constant dry mouth, whatever its causes, can lead to such negative health consequences as:

gum disease;
tooth decay;
fungal infections of the oral cavity;
deterioration of digestion.

Severe and constant dry mouth is especially dangerous for older people, in whom it can lead to the inability to chew and swallow food normally. This often leads to nutritional deficiencies, which can lead to life-threatening pneumonia in old age.

Since the problem of decreased saliva production often creeps up so quietly that you may not notice it right away, you can take a test to see if you have cause for concern.

Have you ever experienced a feeling of incredibly dry mouth at night or immediately after waking up? An unpleasant feeling seems to mean that there is no saliva left in the mouth. Noticeable drying out is a rather rare phenomenon, but a minor degree has occurred in everyone at least once in their life. As a rule, this trouble appears closer to the morning, but does not cause such discomfort as to disturb sound sleep. But sometimes the dryness in the throat at night can be felt so strongly that a person literally begins to choke, coughs and wakes up. Why does this trouble arise and is it possible to fight it?

Everyday situations that cause dry mouth

In the vast majority of cases, dry mouth after sleep is not associated with diseases of the body, but is only an adequate response of your body to irritants. Adequate functioning of the salivary glands ensures that the membranes of the mouth are moisturized, and these small parts of your body work constantly.

The salivary glands become more active before you are about to eat; they even increase in size. It’s not for nothing that the expression “drooling” appeared - this is how our body reacts to the upcoming meal. A lot of saliva appears when poisoning occurs, infection enters the bloodstream, or exposure to substances causes it. This is a kind of protective feature, since a large amount of saliva literally “washes out” the pathogenic environment from the oral cavity.

But there are circumstances that inhibit the activity of the salivary glands, which is why the mouth dries out at night or during the day:

Unfavorable environment. In a dry and hot climate, your mouth will certainly dry out, both at night and during the day. It’s just that during the day we can always drink some water and get rid of the unfavorable feeling. If the relative humidity in the air reaches 50%, then the mucous membranes instantly lose fluid and dry out.
Dehydration. For many, the lack of sufficient fresh water entering the body is not significant at all. If you drink little, saliva will certainly become viscous and dry, because it itself is a liquid. It’s just that the body saves the moisture that is in short supply entering your body.
Runny nose, nasal congestion. If you suffer from respiratory problems, you will breathe through your mouth, which is often the cause of dry mouth at night, because the flow of air passing through the mouth carries away moisture from the body.
A lot of coffee. Coffee lovers who drink 3 or more cups of coffee a day are more likely than others to experience a dry throat at night. Coffee washes calcium and water out of the body, promotes tooth decay, and in general, this drink can hardly be called healthy.
Snore. The vast majority of people who snore during their sleep breathe through their mouths. Breathing problems not only cause nighttime sleepiness, but also dry out the throat at night. You will be surprised, but you can completely get rid of snoring; you just need to provide yourself with the opportunity to breathe normally through your nose. Sometimes we can talk about medical help.
Polluted air. If the atmosphere contains foreign elements, for example, dust, sand, gases, they will certainly settle on the mucous membranes. Once your nasal passages are blocked, you will simply be forced to start breathing through your mouth. And then according to the scheme we have already described. Residents of polluted megacities especially suffer from this problem, spending most of their time in smog.
Poisoning with toxic substances. Sometimes the answer to why your mouth gets dry at night lies in your lifestyle. The use of nicotine, alcohol, and drugs dehydrates the body and poisons it. The kidneys work hard, removing with fluid the toxins that you yourself have thrown into it.

All of these factors can be eliminated as easily as possible by adjusting your lifestyle. Maintain good sleep hygiene, ventilate your bedroom, and you won’t have to worry about how to get rid of dry mouth at night.

Possible health problems

If you are sure that all household factors have been eliminated, and at night dry mouth continues to bother you, then it may be a matter of health problems. The answer to the question of why your mouth gets dry at night may be hidden in the following pathologies of your body:

abnormalities in the development of the salivary ducts, their blockage or other damage;
respiratory diseases that have progressed to the acute or chronic phase;
head injuries causing injuries to the salivary glands;
problems with teeth and gums;
incorrect or incorrectly performed surgical interventions in the oral cavity;
jaw injuries resulting in problems with the salivary glands;
treatment of cancer tumors and chemotherapy;
systemic infections that negatively affect the entire body;
diabetes and other endocrinological diseases;
deviated nasal septum, which causes difficulty breathing through the nose;
rheumatic diseases including arthrosis and arthritis.

For many representatives of the fairer sex, the reason why their mouth gets dry at night is serious hormonal changes. This also includes the premenopausal period, pregnancy, the use of oral contraception and even menstruation.

Some medications you take may also cause dry mouth at night while you sleep. We are even talking about “frivolous” drugs that can be purchased without a doctor’s prescription. This is especially true if you do not take your medications with water. Read the instructions for the purchased drug. You will probably find relevant information in the “side effects” section. It's a pity that some people don't read this paper before taking pills.

When to see a doctor

Few people seriously assess the risks that insufficient saliva secretion in the mouth provokes, so they are in no hurry to visit a doctor, even if dryness is constantly detected. But this condition can be an alarm bell, designed to inform about hidden pathologies or diseases of various etymologies. Please note that saliva not only makes the mucous membranes moist, it also ensures a normal acid-base balance, helps remove food particles from the teeth and gums, saves teeth from damage, and helps fight pathogenic microbes.

Be sure to consult a doctor if, in addition to dry mouth at night, you notice other troubles, for example:

nauseating odor from the mouth, and it is observed constantly, even after brushing your teeth;
regular coughing, painful sensations in the throat, paroxysmal cough;
diarrhea and frequent urination;
the tongue is covered with a dense white or yellow coating of any density;
you have difficulty swallowing and cannot speak normally;
your lips constantly crack and peel, cracks or ulcers form in the corners of your mouth;
unpleasant sensations in the tongue, for example, burning, discoloration, dryness, cracking;
body temperature is above normal most of the day;
the body shows signs of dehydration;
you experience weakness, nausea, loss of orientation.

Such symptoms can often suggest that the body has been attacked by an infection or that other pathologies are observed in it. All this requires surgical intervention by a doctor, the main thing is that the diagnosis is made correctly. The causes and elimination of dry mouth at night and during the day depend on this.

Treating dry mouth with home remedies

Traditional recipes will help eliminate unpleasant dryness in the mouth. But always remember that all traditional medicine does not cure, but only eliminates unpleasant symptoms, therefore, if you decide to take the advice of your ancestors, first visit a doctor who will find out the cause of the problem and prescribe treatment using modern medicine methods. Grandma’s recipes will perfectly help complete the picture and bring temporary relief until the real drugs begin to work.

Treatment for dry mouth at night and during the day can be started using the following methods:

Remember that alcoholic drinks cause extreme drying of the mouth. Drugs and tobacco also do not leave your mucous membranes a chance to function normally. Avoid such products forever.

If traditional recipes do not help you, then go to the doctor. A small problem only at first glance seems harmless. In fact, it may be hiding a much more serious health problem.

When a person sleeps, his salivary glands are less active. Saliva does not protect the tongue, cheeks, mucous membranes and gums from dehydration. For this reason, many people feel a slight dry mouth after the night - xerostomia. And as soon as you drink water, the unpleasant symptom disappears.

But events do not always unfold so positively. Dryness can appear due to changes in the properties of saliva, insufficient production, intoxication of the body, impaired sensitivity of mucosal receptors, and even inflammation of the brain. Therefore, in cases where a symptom appears frequently, you need to run to the clinic to undergo an examination and identify the cause of the disease.

Features of the clinical picture

In addition to dry mouth, you may feel a burning sensation in your tongue and throat and soreness. Observe redness, swelling, cracks in the corners of the lips. Food begins to stick to the roof of the mouth. And if the secretion of saliva is reduced for a long enough time, a white coating appears on the tongue, the gum tissue becomes inflamed and red, and ulcers form on the mucous membrane. The development of caries is possible.

Complications arise due to the growth of the population of opportunistic microorganisms. They live on human skin constantly, but are activated only under suitable conditions. One of these is the lack of saliva, which suppresses their activity.

Symptoms are not always pronounced. The degree of their manifestation depends on the severity of the disease. In the mildest form there is practically no discomfort, the lining of the mouth is slightly moisturized. During the second stage, plaque appears in the mouth, the mucous membrane dries periodically, often at night. Thirst and frequent urge to urinate may occur. The third degree is characterized by acute pain. Foci of inflammation on the mucous membrane are clearly visible.

What is the danger

Saliva promotes the swallowing of food, washes away some microorganisms and naturally prevents caries. When its production is reduced, the risk of inflammation of the mucous membranes, gums, and teeth increases. Thrush, stomatitis, chronic tonsillitis, and gingivitis may develop. Therefore, with prolonged or frequent dry mouth, it is urgent to eliminate the cause of the pathology and improve the functioning of the salivary glands.

Why is my mouth dry?

Xerostomia is drying out of the mouth, which occurs for one of three reasons:

Due to insufficient hydration by saliva.
Due to changes in the qualities of saliva itself.
Saliva is released, but the body perceives the oral cavity as unhydrated due to impaired sensitivity of the mucous membrane.

Why does it dry out after sleep?

The appearance of dry mouth in the morning should not be scary. When a person sleeps, the glands practically do not produce saliva, and the facial muscles weaken. Not everyone, but many people, have their mouths open slightly. Air enters the mucous membrane, which is practically not washed by saliva. As a result, you may feel dry. The duration of the phenomenon is short: usually after washing, all unpleasant symptoms disappear.

The microclimate in the bedroom also matters. If it is too warm and dry, the tissues in your mouth dry out faster and more severely. That is why it is recommended to place the bed at a distance from heating devices.

Morning dry mouth occurs due to a cup of strong coffee or breakfast cereal. And in women, such a symptom can develop even against the background of menopause.

Why does it dry out while you sleep?

Nocturnal xerostomia is explained in the same way. But the symptom can also occur against the background of a serious disease of the nervous system. When the salivary glands stop receiving signals that the oral cavity needs to be moistened. Therefore, the dryness that haunts you from night to night and prevents you from falling asleep should be alarming.

No saliva in the mouth: reasons

Dryness can be felt not only due to external reasons (breathing with an open mouth, sleeping near a radiator, snoring), but also due to internal pathologies:

Dehydration. Both due to a basic lack of water, and due to its rapid loss. Fluid leaves the body during prolonged diarrhea, vomiting, profuse sweating, for example, against a background of elevated body temperature.
Diabetes. If xerostomia is accompanied by frequent urges in the middle of the night, then the diagnosis is obvious.
Diseases of the respiratory system. A person often breathes through his mouth rather than his nose, which can cause the mucous membrane to dry out. Nasal breathing is also disrupted with a common cold.
Taking medications. Any medications can cause dry mouth. Especially those that provoke dehydration - diuretics and hypotensives.
Diseases of the brain, central nervous system. Neuritis of the branches of the trigeminal nerve, Alzheimer's disease, and stroke can disrupt the regulation of salivation.
Intoxication. Abuse of alcohol, tobacco and drugs.
Pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. The most obvious are gastritis, ulcers, hepatitis, pancreatitis.

Dryness around the mouth

If the tissues dry out not only in the mouth, but also outside, this is the first sign of granular cheilitis. A disease that is characterized by disruption of the salivary glands at the border of the red border of the lips. The disease is common among people over 30 years of age and the elderly. In 80% of cases, only the lower lip is involved in the pathological process.

Patients rarely consult a doctor in the early stages of cheilitis, since the symptoms at this point are mild. Then the disease develops and the patient’s well-being deteriorates sharply: the skin around the mouth becomes covered with erosions, the tongue becomes dry, and the corners crack. The sufferer begins to lick his lips, which aggravates the condition even more. The cracks combine and form one large wound. The pathology can be cured using surgical methods or laser therapy.

Dryness and associated symptoms

Oral dehydration cannot be treated alone. You also need to look for the signs that accompany it. They are not always present, but if present and properly diagnosed, they help to establish the true cause of dry mucous membranes and burning sensation in the mouth.

Weakness

The tissues in the oral cavity constantly dry out, a person quickly gets tired and feels chronic weakness without the slightest glimmer of vigor - such symptoms indicate the development of a serious pathological process in the body. This can be a viral, infectious or bacterial disease, external intoxication. And there are even worse reasons:

Pathologies of the nervous system.
Anemia and other blood diseases.
Oncological diseases.

Weakness can be a sign of any illness. Therefore, such a symptom, provided that it manifests itself without reason and over a long period of time, requires immediate consultation with a doctor. Especially if chronic fatigue is accompanied by very dry mouth.

Nausea

Dryness and nausea are often combined. They are usually combined for food poisoning and intestinal infections. And they appear before the main symptoms - bloating, vomiting and diarrhea.

Nausea and dry mouth are not always signs of illness. The reason for their occurrence may be banal overeating or too high-calorie nutrition after a strict diet.

Whitish film on tongue

Dry mouth, mucus, , which cannot be removed, may indicate diseases of the digestive system: gastritis, colitis, stomach ulcers, duodenal ulcers. If the patient experiences acute colic or abdominal cramps, you need to be checked for appendicitis, cholecystitis, intestinal obstruction, pancreatitis and pancreatic necrosis. And the faster, the better. Because surgery may be required.

Bitterness in the mouth

A bitter taste in the mouth, which is combined with a feeling of dryness, clearly indicates a violation of the function of bile secretion or problems with the liver. Both groups of pathologies cause changes in the properties of saliva.

Dizziness

Severe dizziness and dry mouth indicate a breakdown in the mechanisms of regulation of blood circulation in the brain. Symptoms can be observed both at the initial stage of brain disease and with other pathologies that cause intoxication or dehydration.

Frequent urination

A person is constantly thirsty, runs to the toilet, suffers from excessive sweating and wonders why his dry mouth does not go away - all these are signs of diabetes.

The symptoms are explained simply: when the sugar level in the blood rises, the osmotic pressure increases. As a result, fluids from tissues are attracted to the vascular system. The more of them in the blood, the faster the mucous membranes dry. A person always wants to quench his thirst. The dryness does not go away, and drinking too much leads to frequent urges and sweating.

For HIV

Dry mouth can be a symptom of HIV. 30% of people with the immunodeficiency virus have diseases of the mucous membranes of the oral cavity. And despite the fact that patients have more serious concerns than xerostomia, the disease deprives them of a normal life. Due to dryness, patients suffer from constant food sticking to the palate and almost lose taste sensitivity. As a result, they begin to refuse food, which is so necessary to maintain immunity.

Diagnosis of xerostomia

Constant dry mouth and thirst are good reasons to consult a therapist. It will not be possible to identify the cause of the pathology at home, since the diagnosis should include:

assessment of the performance of the salivary glands;
sialography - radiographic examination of salivary ducts filled with a contrast agent.

You cannot tolerate the feeling of dry mouth for long. Since without a sufficient amount of saliva, problems with the protective function of the mucous membrane may occur. The risk of developing candidal stomatitis, thrush, chronic tonsillitis and gum disease will increase.

Treatment for dry mouth

For temporary fix If discomfort occurs, it is recommended to use gels and sprays that are designed to artificially moisturize the mucous membrane. For example, products such as Salivart and Aquoral.

To eliminate dry mouth and other associated symptoms once and for all, you need to treat the underlying disease and take medications to normalize the function of the salivary glands. The course of therapy to eliminate the cause of the disease is selected on an individual basis. For dry mouth, you can take medications to increase the mucous membrane's resistance to irritants and local anti-inflammatory drugs.

Attention! Before using any medications, read the instructions and consult your doctor to avoid possible complications and side effects.

What you can do yourself

If dry tongue is due to external causes, change the environmental conditions:

Reduce the air temperature in the bedroom so as not to “dry out” the mucous membrane. You can combat the heat with an air conditioner or fan.
Stay hydrated. An adult should drink 2–3 liters of water per day. The norm for children from three to six years old is 1–1.5 liters. For a child over seven years old – 1.5–2 liters.
Balance your diet. Avoid snacks at night and dry food, eliminate foods with a lot of salt and sugar.
Strengthen your immune system. Try doing exercises in the fresh air, play sports and stick to a balanced diet.

The use of drug therapy and traditional medicine techniques will help overcome xerostomia and normalize the natural pH of saliva.