Waking Up Wih A Dry Mouth? Here’s Why

If you find yourself constantly waking up with a dry mouth, your body is trying to tell you something! Here are some common reasons why your body is not producing enough saliva.

1. You’re dehydrated – your body might not have enough fluids to produce saliva when you’re sleeping. Did you know that saliva is 99% H2O?

2. You breathe through your mouth – sleeping with your mouth open can dry out the oral tissues, especially the areas closest to your lips.

3. You might have Sleep Apnea – sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder characterized by abnormal breathing during sleep. It is common for sleep apnea patients to breathe through their mouth, however this can be treated with a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine.

4. You’re taking certain medications – many drugs can interfere with the salivary gland secretory cells, resulting in dry mouth. It is important to check with your doctor if this is a side effect of any medications you take.

5. You have an underlying health condition – in addition to sleep apnea, rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren’s syndrome also affect the salivary glands, as well as diabetes, stroke, oral yeast infections and Alzheimer’s disease.

6. You drink Alcohol or caffeine before bed – As diuretics, alcohol and caffeine can dehydrate the body and are one of the largest culprits of dry mouth.