Dry mouth, or xerostomia, as it is known in medical literature, is a widespread condition where the salivary glands cannot produce enough saliva to keep the mouth cavity moist enough. The condition results in a variety of uncomfortable symptoms, which include Bad breath, a sore or hoarse throat, a dry or sticky feeling in your mouth, thick saliva, difficulty swallowing or speaking, dry or fissured tongue, dry or cracked lips etc. Saliva plays a very important role in preventing dental problems and maintaining oral health, since it has antibacterial properties and neutralizes harmful acids produced by bacteria that live in your mouth, which can cause tooth decay. Apart from that, saliva enhances the taste of food and helps digest food, which makes it crucial for healthy nutrition and digestion.
Some common reasons for dry mouth
- Breathing Through the Mouth: Certain sleep conditions, such as obstructive sleep apnea and snoring can cause dry mouth, with patients suffering from apnea being 10 times more likely to suffer from dry mouth than those who don’t according to one study. Those suffering from congestion and any other condition that makes it more difficult for you to breathe through the nose can likewise cause dry mouth.
- Sjögren’s syndrome is an autoimmune condition, the primary symptom of which is dry mouth. The immune system of patients suffering from the disorder attacks its tear glands and salivary glands, which, in turn, stop producing enough saliva and tears. As a result, the person will experience a sensation of dryness in their eyes and mouth, which often gets worse at night when the body naturally produces less of these bodily liquids.
- Diabetes: Suffering from diabetes can likewise experience dry mouth as a result of their condition. High sugar levels can make you more likely to experience dehydration, which can cause dry mouth. Apart from that, certain diabetes medications can cause the condition, so it’s especially important for diabetic patients to stay hydrated at all costs.
- Allergies: Allergies can contribute to dry mouth as well because they often cause a blocked nose, which makes you breathe through the nose. Apart from that, inflamed soft tissues in the nasal and oral cavity common in allergy sufferers themselves often feel drier and sore, in which case a dry mouth will be a symptom of the underlying allergy.
Home Treatments of symptomatic treatment of Dry Mouth
To make sure that dry mouth no longer wakes you up in the middle of the night, you can incorporate these tips into your life:
- Avoid alcohol and coffee at night, and stop smoking if you do.
- Use an air humidifier in your bedroom throughout the night. If you don’t have one, you can simply put a bowl of water or a wet towel near a heat source in your room.
- Suck on ice cubes, chew sugar-free gum, or eat sugar-free candy or lozenges during the day, as all of these promote the production of saliva.
- Hydration, hydration, and hydration: incorporate water even with your meals and sip on cool water all day.
- Maintain good oral hygiene by brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing on a daily basis to prevent dental complications.
- Use hydrating nasal and oral sprays to prevent dehydration of the soft tissues.
Source: Internet and other
The views expressed in this article should not be considered as a substitute for a physician’s advice. Always make sure to seek a doctor or a professional’s advice before proceeding with the home treatment plan.