8 Reasons Your Mouth May Feel Dry at Night
Waking up with a dry, sticky mouth is common, but persistent nighttime dry mouth (xerostomia) isn’t something you should simply dismiss as aging. Saliva protects your teeth and gums, so chronically low saliva can increase the risk of cavities and oral infections.
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The 8 common causes
Mouth breathing — A blocked nose, allergies, congestion, or simply sleeping with your mouth open can dry the mouth overnight.
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Snoring or sleep apnea — Waking with a very dry mouth is a recognized symptom of sleep apnea, especially when accompanied by loud snoring, gasping, morning headaches, or daytime sleepiness.
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Medications — Hundreds of medicines can reduce saliva, including some medications for high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, allergies, congestion, pain, and bladder problems.
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Not getting enough fluids — Dehydration can temporarily reduce saliva and make the mouth feel sticky or dry.
Alcohol and tobacco — Both can worsen dry-mouth symptoms. Caffeine can also contribute to dryness in some people.
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Diabetes or high blood sugar — Diabetes can cause dry mouth, particularly when accompanied by excessive thirst and frequent urination.
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Sjögren’s disease and other medical conditions — Autoimmune diseases affecting the salivary glands can produce persistent dryness.
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CPAP use — If you use CPAP for sleep apnea, mouth breathing or an air leak can make your mouth particularly dry. A humidifier or different mask arrangement may help.
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What you can try tonight
Drink adequate fluids during the day rather than deliberately becoming dehydrated.
Keep the bedroom comfortably humidified.
Treat nasal congestion so you can breathe through your nose.
Avoid alcohol and tobacco.
Try sugar-free gum or candy during the day to stimulate saliva.
Maintain excellent dental hygiene and use fluoride toothpaste.
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Don’t stop a prescription medicine because it causes dry mouth. Ask your doctor or pharmacist whether an alternative or dose adjustment is appropriate.
If dry mouth persists, causes difficulty swallowing, mouth sores, recurrent infections, bad breath, or increasing dental problems, have it evaluated by a doctor or dentist.
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And if you snore loudly, wake gasping, or are unusually sleepy during the day, ask about evaluation for sleep apnea rather than treating the dry mouth alone.
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