Does Sleeping With An Open Mouth Make It Dry In The Morning?

Does Sleeping With An Open Mouth Make It Dry In The Morning?

Sleeping with your mouth open at night can certainly make it dry in the morning. Dryness can contribute to the sensation of numb tongue and bad breath that often accompanies the "mouth of the morning", which is one of the reasons why many people like to brush their teeth before interacting with others in the morning. Of course, sleeping with your mouth open can not be the only cause of dry mouth. Once you find the cause, you can look for an effective solution.

Identification

If you tend to sleep with your mouth open, you may wake up with a mouth that feels like the Sahara desert. The term for this is xerostomia. In addition to your mouth feeling dry, you may also notice that your throat feels a little sore from the lack of moisture. You can feel the mouth sticky, and the tongue can appear red and irritated. Even teeth can feel dry. You may also notice that your lips are cracked. You probably have bad breath too.

Effects

In addition to causing bad breath, dry mouth can also increase the risk of gum disease, since lack of saliva allows bacteria to adhere to the teeth and gums, instead of being dragged. For the same reason, dry mouth can also cause cavities to appear. A dry mouth can increase the risk of fungal infections in the mouth.

Causes

One way to prevent dry mouth caused by sleeping with your mouth open is to look for the reason why you are sleeping with your mouth open in the first place. You can be congested or have episodes of sleep apnea. If you suspect sleep apnea, consult your doctor, since the symptoms of this disease can be much more serious than a dry mouth. You can also have breast abnormalities that cause you to breath with your mouth open. The doctor will be able to identify any such anomalies, if this is the case.

You may also have a dry mouth from taking certain medications. Antihistamines and antidepressants are two medications that are well known to have this side effect. They may be exacerbating your problem with dry mouth in the morning. Dehydration is another cause of dry mouth.

Diseases such as diabetes and anemia can also contribute to a dry mouth.

Prevention

If you are congested, visit your doctor. You can recommend a nasal decongestant or nasal steroid that allows you to breathe freely during the night. You can also put an extra pillow on your head while you sleep. This can help reduce congestion and help you sleep with your mouth closed. If you suspect that you may be a little dehydrated, increase the amount of water you drink during the day.

Solutions

If you have tried all the preventive measures and still have your mouth dry in the morning, there are some things you can do to help. Keep a packet of crackers and a glass of water on your bedside table. When you wake up, take a glass and eat a salty cookie. The salt in the cookie stimulates the production of saliva in the mouth, which helps relieve the symptoms of dry mouth. Brushing teeth immediately after waking will have a similar effect and will eliminate bad breath caused by dry mouth.

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