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Waking up with a mouth as dry as the Sahara desert can cause one to question the cause. One of the factors contributing to this is mouth breathing, rather than through the nose, the natural way. Or, some medications or health conditions may be causing that. It becomes more difficult to monitor what is causing the problem since there are so many possibilities.
If you have a persistent dry mouth problem, you should not wait until the worst happens to visit a dentist in Grier Heights, Charlotte, NC. When left untreated, dry mouth can cause eating and speaking problems, along with ruining your oral health. Saliva is necessary for several important bodily functions.
What is a dry mouth? What are its symptoms?
Dry mouth, also called xerostomia, is an occurrence due to the insufficient or no production of saliva in the mouth. It might seem like a minor annoyance at first, but when there isn’t enough saliva in the mouth, plaque thrives. Symptoms include-
- Discomfort with dentures
- Thick or stringy saliva
- Dry or sore throat
- Dry and/or chapped lips
- A bad taste in your mouth
- Dryness
- Urge to drink water as soon as you wake up
- Difficulty chewing, swallowing, or speaking
- Experiencing unpleasant tastes of food that tastes good
- Bad breath in the morning
- Saliva builds up in the morning
- Hoarseness
Why do people experience a drier mouth at night compared to the day?
The ability of your salivary glands to produce saliva at night significantly diminishes during the night, particularly due to less consumption of water. Moreover, people tend to breathe through their mouths more than their noses when they sleep. The air you draw through your mouth can dry the saliva, which is already less in amount.
Another aspect to consider is that when thirst strikes during the day, you can readily satisfy it by drinking water. Being alert and conscious means no need to postpone until your mouth and throat are completely dry.
On the other hand, you sleep at night and stay unconscious. Therefore, you would not feel the need to drink water unless the mouth dryness reaches an extreme point.
Despite a dry mouth generally not indicating a major health problem, it is recommended to stay well-hydrated by consuming enough water throughout the day and prior to bedtime to avoid experiencing this condition.
Sometimes, a dry mouth can be due to medications or health concerns. See a doctor or a dentist today.
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