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How to Prevent and Relieve

Dry Mouth at Night

When you experience dry mouth, achieving a refreshing night’s sleep will be hard. Dry mouth is the condition caused by not having sufficient saliva to keep the mouth moisturized and lubricated. This is a problem that results from salivary glands not producing adequate saliva. Dry mouth can cause immense discomfort especially at night and can also lead to several negative effects on your oral health. This is more so given that saliva is needed to deal with acid and bacteria build up in the mouth. Saliva fights tooth decay and prevents bad breath. The medical term for dry mouth is Xerostomia. This is more of a symptom than a disorder.

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Bolton Ontario L7E 2B1
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Signs ofdry mouth

  • Bad breath
  • Frequent tooth decay
  • Sustained thirst. You may have to wake up several times to drink water
  • Dry tongue or burning sensation on the tongue
  • Mouth infections
  • A sticky feeling in the throat and mouth
  • Sticky or string-like saliva
  • Trouble tasting, chewing, swallowing and speaking

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Causes of dry mouth

Breathing through the mouth

There are many causes of dry mouth. The main cause is breathing while your mouth is open. The use of orthodontic appliances such as dental retainers and bite splinters may cause you to breathe through the mouth at night thus causing dry mouth. Breathing difficulties, snoring as well as the use of CPAP masks can cause you to breathe through your mouth.

Medication

There are many over the counter and prescribed drugs that cause dry mouth. This is the side effect of many pain relievers and relaxants. Drugs that are consumed by older people have also been found to cause of xerostomia.

Cancer treatment

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy often lead to dry mouth. This is for the simple fact that these treatments affect mouth glands. These glands can take longer to heal after the treatment. In some cases, radiation has been shown to affect these glands irreversibly.

Health conditions

There are various health conditions that lead to dry mouth. Autoimmune diseases have been found to cause an increase in the frequency of dry mouth.

Tobacco use

Chewing or smoking tobacco will cause you to experience dry mouth. This is more so at night. Making some lifestyle changes can help deal away with this problem.

Home remediesto dry mouth

There are many home remedies that you can use to deal with the dry mouth problem at night.  You need first to talk to a dentist Nobleton to evaluate your options. Some remedies simply require that you change some habits.

  • Stop chewing and smoking tobacco
  • Practice breathing only through the nose
  • Increase the intake of fluids during the day. Consume water, juicy fruits and smoothies.
  • Avoid snacks and foods that have excessive amounts of salt and sugar. Sugar-free chewing gum is allowed.
  • Use seeds and herbs that provide relief from dry mouth. They include Aloe Vera, fennel seeds, grape seed oil, cayenne pepper, and cardamom.
  • Invest in saliva products or substitutes that stimulate the production of saliva. Avoid products that contain antihistamines and decongestants.
  • Reduce caffeine intake

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