Dry mouth--also called xerostomia--is a condition that results from insufficient amounts of saliva. According to Dr. Dan Peterson of Family Gentle Dental Care, your mouth has three separate sets of saliva glands. The glands near your tongue at the bottom of your mouth produce the most moisture. Those at the top of your mouth, against your cheek, produce less. When all is working as it should, your mouth is capable of producing plenty of saliva, but many things can interfere with that production. Dry mouth is often worse at night because when you are asleep, you are unable to take steps against it as you would during the day, such as sipping water.
Related Symptoms
Your symptoms may go beyond simply waking up at night with your mouth drained of moisture. Xerostomia can eventually cause a burning feeling in your mouth or at the back of your throat, cracked lips and mouth sores. You might also suffer from bad breath and frequent sore throats, according to MayoClinic.com.
Causes
The most common cause of dry mouth is medication, both over-the-counter and prescribed, according to Peterson. While xerostomia does not necessarily go hand-in-hand with the aging process, quite often the elderly take medications for other conditions that leave them vulnerable to dry mouth. Excessive stress can affect your salivary glands, as well, according to the website Quantum Health. Chemotherapy can dry up saliva production, as well as an injury to your jaw, head or neck. The most serious possible cause of xerostomia is a condition known as Sjogren's syndrome, an autoimmune disease where the body attacks its own moisture-producing glands.
Dangers
Dry mouth can eventually cause dental decay, warns Peterson. Some of the purposes of saliva include prevention of bacteria and fungi in the mouth and sweeping food particles through to your digestive system so they can't linger and cause plaque. When you have insufficient saliva, the bacteria in your mouth can increase up to tenfold.
Remedies
Most remedies for dry mouth are impossible at night because you are sleeping, but there are things you can do to fight its effects. Peterson suggests saliva spray that you can leave on your bedside table to give yourself a spritz or two if you wake up feeling uncomfortable. A drug called pilocarpine can increase saliva production, but your physician will monitor you while taking it because it can affect blood pressure and heart rate.
Drink water with every meal. MayoClinic.com also advises against smoking and caffeine, both of which can contribute to dry mouth. Avoid mouthwashes containing alcohol, antihistamines and decongestants. Sleep with a room humidifier to add moisture to your bedroom air.
Warning
If you begin suffering from xerostomia suddenly or for an extended period of time, see your doctor. It can be a symptom of a variety of health conditions, some serious. Diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Bell's palsy and Parkinson's disease can all affect your production of saliva, according to MayoClinic.com.
