Introduction

According to Iqaluit Dental Clinic, dry mouth occurs due to hyposalivation, which simply means that your salivary glands don’t produce enough saliva in your mouth. However, it is often a sign of underlying illness that can indicate serious health implications. The symptoms of dry mouth include dryness on your nasal passageways, a burning sensation in your mouth, hoarseness, mild to severe sore throat, and more. It can be especially frustrating since it often occurs when you are sleeping.

Tips & Tricks

Here are a few tips you can follow to prevent dry mouth while sleeping:

  1. Ensure you don’t sleep with your mouth open – One of the most common reasons why people experience dry mouth while sleeping is mouth breathing. Other sleeping habits such as snoring and sleep apnea can also cause dry mouth.

Thus, it is important to practice breathing through your nose to reduce the symptoms of dry mouth. You can use nasal strips to reduce the habit of mouth breathing.

  1. Stay hydrated – According to various studies, dehydration is one of the major reasons for experiencing dry mouth. This is understandable since saliva is mostly water and you need water in your body to produce saliva.

It is recommended that you drink at least 2.5 litres of water every day to stay hydrated. However, make it a habit to sip water throughout the day and before going to sleep at night. Don’t gulp water only when you are feeling thirsty since your kidneys will just flush the excess water.

  1. Get a humidifier – If you live in a region with dry weather and low moisture, it can increase the chances of your experiencing dry mouth. One of the best ways to improve the moisture in your room is to get a humidifier. It will help to maintain optimum moisture levels in your bedroom and reduce discomfort while sleeping. In fact, if you use a BiPAP or CPAP machine, a humidifier can allow you to sleep more comfortably.

  1. Avoid certain medications – Certain types of medications such as hormone medications, antihistamines, bronchodilators, antihypertensives, and more can result in side effects such as the dry mouth. If you currently take any such medications daily, ensure you consult with your doctor and discuss the side affects you are experiencing. Your doctor will likely substitute the medication, if possible, to reduce the negative side effects.

  1. Try OTC saliva substitutes – Synthetic saliva such as xerostom is great for getting short-term relief from dry mouth. However, they are not a permanent cure. You can easily get them in your local pharmacy.

Conclusion

Iqaluit Dental Clinic suggests you consult a doctor if you experience the symptoms of dry mouth and solve it as soon as possible. If left unchecked, dry mouth can lead to dental complications such as cavities, gum diseases, tooth loss, poor nutrition, an impaired sense of taste, stress, anxiety, depression, and more. In many cases, it can help to detect an underlying illness which you have to cure first to alleviate the symptoms of dry mouth.