Many of us are too familiar with that feeling of waking up with a dry mouth. It’s not a good feeling to wake up parched and dehydrated. In some cases, it may even cause you to have a headache when you wake up. Without drinking a lot of water right away, it can give you lasting effects throughout the day.
This annoying symptom might be more than just a morning frustration. If you experience dry mouth regularly, it’s time to schedule a consultation with your general dentist in Upland at Alta Dental Care to find the underlying issue. In more severe cases, your chronic dry mouth may be indicative of tooth decay or even gum disease.
Here are some warning signs to look out for, as well as some methods to help give you much-needed relief when you wake up each morning.
What Causes Dry Mouth?
In order to effectively use the prevention methods needed to stop your mouth from becoming so dry, it’s important to understand what causes this discomfort in the first place. Isn’t our saliva supposed to keep our mouths lubricated and cleared from dust and harmful substances while we breathe? When it comes to dry mouth, there is not enough saliva produced to keep your mouth protected throughout the night.
This can happen for a number of reasons, including:
- Smoking
- Use of certain medications
- Aging
- Diabetes
- Parkinson’s disease
- Overall poor oral health
Other health conditions, such as autoimmune diseases and yeast infections, are reported by Mayo Clinic as also contributing to chronic dry mouth.
Preventing Chronic Dry Mouth
Now that you are experiencing dry mouth each morning when you wake up, what are some ways that you can combat this discomfort? While you work with your trusted dentist and doctor on a long-term solution to treating whatever conditions may be contributing to chronic dry mouth, you can take measures at home as well.
Stay Hydrated
The best way to avoid dry mouth at night is to make sure you get plenty of hydration throughout the day. Drink several cups of water per day, and don’t forget to bring a glass of water with you to bed to stay hydrated throughout the night.
Invest in Different Toothpaste
You’ll want to use a toothpaste high in fluoride. This is because fluoride is a hydrating agent that provides nutrients and minerals to the parts of your body that need it most. There are many good fluoride toothpaste options by Colgate; just remember to not eat anything for 30 minutes after brushing with a fluoride paste.
Avoid Certain Foods
You’ll want to steer clear of things like spicy foods or highly acidic foods for a while. There are ingredients in these substances that can exacerbate the symptoms of dry mouth since the body requires more water than normal to combat the spiciness of the food. Your mouth will have none left over by the time you’re going to sleep.
Get a Sleep Test
Dry mouth is a common symptom for those who snore a lot. If you breathe with your mouth open and you have a habit of snoring, you may be suffering from sleep-related conditions like sleep apnea. Get in touch with a doctor or sleep specialist to learn more about your options.
Go Sugar-Free
Chewing sugar-free gum and eating sugar-free sweets can help increase your body’s production of saliva. While you don’t need to nix sugar from your diet altogether, it’s helpful to use sugar-free foods as a way to stimulate more saliva production in your mouth.
Prevent Oral Health Complications Today!
When untreated, chronic dry mouth can lead to worse symptoms like mouth sores, yeast infections, and the buildup of plaque on your teeth. It’s important that you communicate with your local dentist as quickly as possible to assess and resolve any health issues you may be experiencing. For more information, contact us online or give us a call at (909) 451-8300 to schedule a consultation. We provide the best family and cosmetic dental care Upland has to offer.