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It’s normal to wake up with a dry mouth sometimes – saliva production naturally decreases during the night.
However, such an explanation is of little comfort to those who frequently encounter such problems.
Waking up with your tongue stuck to the roof of your mouth isn’t a pleasant experience, and sometimes it can mean a hidden health problem.
Sometimes cigarettes are to blame
There are many possible causes of nighttime dry mouth, so when the condition worsens or even becomes chronic, it can be difficult for doctors to pinpoint the true culprit.
Mouth breathing is usually the obvious first suspect. Sleep apnea, dehydration, and some medications like antihistamines can also be culprits.
However, certain health conditions, such as Sjögren’s syndrome, can sometimes be the source of unpleasant symptoms. This is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the body’s own exocrine glands. The functions of saliva and tear secretion are most disturbed.
Drinking alcohol and smoking can also contribute to this. Sometimes, dryness is caused by products used before bed, such as mouthwash (especially those that contain alcohol).
Troubles don’t come bit by bit.
Dry mouth, even making the tongue appear stiff, is rarely the only symptom in the morning.
Many people still complain of frequent thirst, and some even have mouth sores, chapped lips, difficulty swallowing, and even cannot speak after waking up, with hoarse voices.
Other characteristic symptoms are bad breath and unpleasant taste, thick saliva.
Not surprisingly, all of this ultimately affects the overall health of your mouth, especially the health of your teeth and gums.
It is well known that our saliva has antibacterial properties and aids digestion. Therefore, when they become seriously deficient, the risk of tooth decay increases and the health of the gums is threatened.
If we don’t take action, ongoing chronic dry mouth can disrupt normal sleep, increasing the number of unpleasant health consequences.
When should you see a doctor?
It is possible and even necessary to get rid of dry mouth after a night out, but be aware that this may not be a single remedy but rather a multi-stage process.
The easiest way to prevent dryness of the oral mucosa is to drink enough fluids throughout the day, not drink alcohol (including mouthwash, other methods containing alcohol), and not smoke. You can try sucking on special lozenges for dry mouth, which soothe the oral mucosa and stimulate saliva secretion (similar sprays and gels are also available for bedtime).
It wouldn’t hurt to set up an air humidifier in your bedroom and contact a specialist who can help you get used to mouth breathing through exercises or equipment.
If you are unable to successfully resolve dry mouth on your own, you should consult your doctor. This condition may be related to any medications you are taking or underlying health problems, and is more likely to occur when other symptoms are present in addition to dryness.
If the dryness doesn’t go away or gets worse, be prepared to see a specialist. Pay special attention if you also have sore throat, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, severe daytime sleepiness, loud snoring, frequent night awakenings, or systemic symptoms such as joint pain or dry eyes.
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