Your mouth depends on healthy amounts of saliva to prevent disease and clean away harmful plaque. Insufficient saliva causes mouth dryness that can keep you awake at night and may be a warning of serious health conditions, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Protect your well-being by becoming aware of the common causes and treatments for dry mouth. Avoid any home remedy that claims to cure the condition until speaking with your doctor.
Significance
Dry mouth, also called xerostomia, typically occurs in adults and is caused by the absence of saliva. People with dry mouth often experience difficulty speaking or swallowing and may have bad breath. Your risk increases for the growth of harmful bacteria when your mouth lacks adequate levels of saliva, as well as for tooth decay and other health conditions.
Types
Medications prescribed by your doctor to treat depression, high blood pressure, Parkinson's disease and incontinence are common triggers of nighttime dry mouth. Non-prescription products also increase your risk for the condition, including antihistamines, muscle relaxers, nasal decongestants and products that relieve diarrhea. Treatments for some health conditions like stroke and Alzheimer's disease have been linked to mouth dryness, while chemotherapy often reduces your saliva levels.
Prevention/Solution
Limit your risk for nighttime dryness by breathing through your nose instead of your mouth and avoid snoring when possible. Tobacco use of any kind worsens the severity of dry mouth, so chewing sugar-free gum as a substitute may relieve your symptoms. Some people with dry mouth benefit from drinking more water and less caffeine, as well as from avoiding sugary treats and mouthwash with alcohol.
Potential
Medical treatment for persistent mouth dryness centers around what health condition, if any, created your discomfort. Review your medications with your doctor so he can determine if you may be experiencing a side effect, as well as recommend another medication or adjust your dosage if needed. Your doctor may suggest methods of increasing your saliva production if a disease, accident or treatment like chemotherapy has permanently damaged your salivary gland. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the drugs pilocarpine and cevimeline as treatments for dry mouth.
Considerations
Installation of a humidifier in your bedroom can reduce your likelihood of nighttime mouth dryness through increased moisture, while the use of fluoride-containing toothpaste and mouth rinse is also beneficial. Most drugstores carry non-prescription products with carboxymethyl cellulose or hydroxyethyl cellulose that can serve as healthy saliva substitutes.
