You may have experienced a dry mouth when you wake up in the morning. That makes you unpleasant and may feel your mouth is sticky. Then, you need to drink a lot of water or any other fluids.
Some people also wake up with a headache because of dehydration. All of those signs show that you have a dry mouth at night.
There are many reasons why your mouth feels dry when you sleep. It could be due to your sleep position, medications, or even breathing through your mouth. But, the most common reason is dehydration. When you don’t drink enough water during the day, your mouth will be dry at night.
Dehydration can happen when you are sick, have allergies, or drink alcohol. It can also happen if you don’t drink enough water during the day.
Here are several ways that may help you get rid of dry mouth while sleeping.
Table of Contents
- 1. Take Good Care of Your Teeth and Mouth
- 2. Drink Plenty of Water to Stay Hydrated
- 3. Have Water Available Beside Your bed in Case You Mouth Dry at Night
- 4. Use a Humidifier in Your Room
- 5. Quit Smoking
- 6. Avoid Alcohol and Caffeine Before Bed
- 7. Limit Salty Food Intake
- 8. Avoid Sugary Foods Before Bed
- 9. Don’t Eat too Late at Night
- 10. Limit Spicy and Acidic Foods in Your Dinner
- 11. Use A Dry Mouth Moisturizing Spray
- 12. Use Saliva Substitutes
- 13. Chew Sugar-free Gum Or Suck On Sugar-free Candy
- 14. Use Nasal Strips
- 15. Don’t Use Your Mouth to Breathe
- 16. Talk to Your Doctor
- Final Thought
1. Take Good Care of Your Teeth and Mouth
Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least two times a day. Floss your teeth every day. Visit your dentist regularly. These habits will help you prevent gum disease and tooth decay. Gum disease and tooth decay can cause dry mouth.
If you wear dentures, clean them every day. Soak them in water or a cleaning solution. Brush them with a soft-bristled brush.
2. Drink Plenty of Water to Stay Hydrated
The best way to prevent dehydration is to drink plenty of fluids during the day. Carry a water bottle with you and take small sips throughout the day. Drink more water when it’s hot outside or if you are exercising.
Make sure to drink enough fluids before going to bed. Drinking a glass of water or any other non-alcoholic beverage will help keep your mouth hydrated overnight. Avoid drinking caffeinated or sugary drinks before bed as they can make dehydration worse.
3. Have Water Available Beside Your bed in Case You Mouth Dry at Night
It is a good idea to keep a glass or bottle of water next to your bed. That way, you can drink some water if you wake up with a dry mouth during the night. This can help prevent dehydration and help you get back to sleep quickly.
4. Use a Humidifier in Your Room
A humidifier adds moisture to the air. This can help prevent your mouth from drying out at night. It can also help relieve congestion and other symptoms of allergies or a cold. Just be sure to clean your humidifier regularly.
5. Quit Smoking
Smoking is a common cause of dry mouth. Cigarettes and other tobacco products can reduce saliva production and make your mouth feel dry. If you smoke, quitting is the best way to prevent dry mouth.
6. Avoid Alcohol and Caffeine Before Bed
Drinking alcohol before bed can make dehydration worse. Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it makes you urinate more. When you urinate, your body loses water and becomes dehydrated.
Caffeine is also a diuretic and can make dehydration worse. Caffeine is found in coffee, tea, soda, and energy drinks. It’s best to avoid all caffeinated beverages in the evening and before bed.
7. Limit Salty Food Intake
Eating salty foods can result in an excess of sodium in the body, which makes the kidneys work extra hard to neutralize it, causing the kidneys to excrete more water. This can eventually lead to dehydration if you don’t drink enough fluids to make up for the increased water loss.
8. Avoid Sugary Foods Before Bed
Eating sugary foods can also cause dehydration. When you consume sugar, your body breaks it down into glucose and fructose. Glucose is absorbed into the bloodstream and used for energy. Fructose is metabolized by the liver and turned into glycogen, which is stored in the liver.
If you eat a lot of sugar, your liver can become overloaded with glycogen. When this happens, the liver starts to convert fructose into fat. This process uses up a lot of water and can lead to dehydration.
9. Don’t Eat too Late at Night
Eating too close to bedtime can make it hard to digest food. This can lead to indigestion, heartburn, and other gastrointestinal problems. It’s best to eat your last meal at least 3 hours before bedtime.
10. Limit Spicy and Acidic Foods in Your Dinner
Spicy and acidic foods can irritate the mouth and throat, making them feel dry. This can make you feel thirstier and can lead to dehydration if you don’t drink enough fluids. If you suffer from dry mouth, it’s best to avoid these types of foods.
11. Use A Dry Mouth Moisturizing Spray
Dry mouth moisturizing sprays can help relieve dry mouth symptoms. These products work by adding moisture to the mouth and throat. They are available over the counter at most pharmacies.
12. Use Saliva Substitutes
If you have a dry mouth, your saliva isn’t able to perform its normal functions. Saliva helps keep the mouth moist, washes away food and bacteria, and aids in digestion.
Saliva substitutes can help increase saliva production and keep the mouth moist. They are available over-the-counter and can be used as needed.
13. Chew Sugar-free Gum Or Suck On Sugar-free Candy
Chewing gum and sucking on candy can help increase saliva production and keep the mouth moist. Look for sugar-free options as sugary gum and candy can cause tooth decay.
14. Use Nasal Strips
If your nose is congested or dry, it can contribute to a dry mouth while you sleep. Using nasal strips or a humidifier can help keep your nose moist and reduce dry mouth symptoms.
15. Don’t Use Your Mouth to Breathe
Mouth breathing can cause your mouth to become dry. If you have allergies or a cold, you may breathe through your mouth when you sleep. This can make dry mouth worse.
If you have trouble breathing through your nose, see your doctor. They can treat the underlying condition and help you find ways to prevent mouth breathing at night.
Meanwhile, if you sleep on your back, your tongue can fall into the back of your throat and block your airway. This can cause you to snore or breathe through your mouth. Sleeping on your side can help prevent these issues.
16. Talk to Your Doctor
If you frequently wake up with a dry mouth, talk to your doctor. Dry mouth at night can be a sign of sleep apnea, which is a serious condition that needs treatment.
Dry mouth can also be a side effect of certain medications. If you’re taking medication, talk to your doctor about the possibility of dry mouth as a side effect. They may be able to prescribe a different medication that doesn’t cause dry mouth.
Final Thought
Waking up with a dry mouth can be annoying and uncomfortable. But there are things you can do to prevent it. By following these tips, hope you can wake up with a moist mouth and start your day feeling refreshed