Question:
I have a dry mouth especially at night. Does it happen as I keep my mouth open? Is there not enough saliva?
Answer:
Dry Mouth During Sleep
The salivary glands are responsible for salivary secretion. Dryness of mouth is due to improper function of salivary glands. Dry mouth syndrome has become very common in recent times. People who have dry mouth have feeling of metallic taste in their mouth.
Causes of dry mouth at night:
- Habits of smoking or chewing tobacco can cause dry mouth. Caffeinated drinks can also cause dry mouth. Excess of coffee, tea, can also contribute in dryness of mouth.
- Certain diseases can decrease the salivary secretion and they are diabetes, Alzheimer disease, anemia, HIV/aids, rheumatoid arthritis, and Parkinson’s disease.
- Medications: Certain medicines are known to cause dry mouth. antihistamines, antidepressants, muscles relaxants few of them. This medicines if taken before sleeping can cause dry mouth during sleep
- Snoring and keeping mouth open during sleep, can also cause the mouth to dry.
Treatment of dry mouth at night:
There are plenty of ways to treat this condition but the root cause should be determined as early as possible.
- Medicines which cause this problem should be discontinued.
- Drink water at least 8 glass in a day, this will keep the mouth moist and prevent it from drying.
- Chewing gum also helps in increasing salivary secretion.
- Vitamin E oil or flaxseed oil or sunflower oil when spread on the tongue and the mouth while sleeping keeps the mouth moist during sleep.
- Change your diet: Do not eat salty and spicy food, do not drink caffeinated products, tea and coffee should be consumed in lesser quantity.
- Take proper dental care.