Dry mouth can be rather uncomfortable, especially at nighttime when all you want to do is rest in peace. Though there are treatments available for dry mouth, some of the alternative therapies are just as effective and less harsh on the body. Plus, you might find it advantageous to understand why dry mouth occurs and what underlying conditions may be causing it in your case.
Definition
Dry mouth is also known by its more scientific name of xerostomia and results from not enough saliva being present in the mouth. It's a fairly common condition and can happen any time you're stressed or haven't drunk enough water. If it persists, however, dry mouth can make chewing and swallowing harder and can result in increased tooth decay.
Causes
Dry mouth happens when the salivary glands don't work right and simply don't produce enough saliva. This could be the result of a variety conditions including diabetes, Sjogren's syndrome and Parkinson's disease and the use of certain medications like those used to treat allergies, high blood pressure, anxiety and depression.
Practical Treatments
Several practical lifestyle changes work well in treating dry mouth at nighttime. For instance, you could drink a glass of water right before bed and leave a glass on your nightstand to sip from if you wake up in the middle of the night. You could also eat a piece of sugar-free candy right before bed to produce more saliva before you sleep. If you snore and wake up with a sore throat because of it, you might want to wear a mouthguard to keep the airways open. Use a room vaporizer to add moisture to the air and make it less likely that you will snore and suffer from the resulting dry mouth.
Alternative Treatments
Green tea with a bit of fresh ginger can increase the amount of saliva in your mouth and bring relief to this condition if you drink a cup before bedtime. You might also want to keep some sugarless gum on hand like Orbit, Trident, Extra and Eclipse to stimulate saliva. Just make sure to spit it out before you fall asleep.
Saliva Substitute
If an alternative therapy isn't potent enough to work, use an over-the-counter or prescribed saliva substitute such as Oralube, Salivart and Plax. The active ingredient is often contained in a mouthwash and perfect for using right before you go to sleep.
