Dry mouth

Normally, an adult produces up to 1.5 liters of saliva during the day. It is necessary for the body not only to liquefy solid foods (for better absorption), but also to constantly maintain the environment of the oral cavity. Saliva also has antimicrobial and antiseptic properties.

But sometimes it happens that the processes of saliva flow is malfunctioning. There is a dry mouth, the tongue sticks to the sky, there is a feeling of thirst. In medical reference books, impaired salivation accompanied by dry mouth is referred to as "xerostomia." It is ranked as a group of symptoms that accompany both individual diseases and certain states of the body. Note that in some cases, salivation can not only be broken, but also stop altogether.

Very often, this condition is observed at night. What are the causes of dry mouth at night, and how to eliminate them? How serious is this violation and is it worth resorting to therapy?

What causes dry mouth?

What are the reasons that sometimes we feel so thirsty at night to drink? For example, earlier we ate too much sweet, sour, spicy or salty. Or maybe our temperature rose, the fever began. There are many reasons for such a condition: from a banal cold to serious diseases of internal organs.

If you are thirsty at night, then there are probably reasons:

1. We have already mentioned that the nature of dishes that have been eaten before, can provoke dryness and thirst. This also includes alcoholic and caffeine-containing drinks, the property of which significantly affect the body's water balance. This group includes narcotic, psychotropic drugs and tobacco.
2. Side effect of drug therapy. For example, the same diuretic drugs, of course, affect the body's water balance. Other drugs have this effect due to improper (non-prescription, without taking into account contraindications) use. However, some medications, such as sedatives, can temporarily cause dryness in the mouth. Therefore, before you start taking you need to carefully read the instructions.
3. Saliva is a liquid, and, therefore, for its release requires water contained in our body. Depending on age, water makes up 60-80% of all substances. Disruption of water balance and excessive dehydration of the body, one way or another, will affect the work of the salivary glands. Therefore, it is necessary to adhere to the recommendation - 1.5-2 liters of fluid per day, especially in a dry, hot climate. By the way, the imbalance occurs due to diarrhea, vomiting, and bleeding.
4. Dry mouth during sleep can be caused by infection of the body. The first step is to include the pathology of the respiratory system. Concomitant symptoms - nasal congestion, sore throat, cough, high fever - only increase dryness in the mouth. The inability to breathe through the nose makes a person breathe through his mouth, and that's dryness for you. When fever there is excessive sweating, the body quickly loses moisture, not having time to fill it. That is why one of the medical recommendations during treatment is a rich warm drink.
5. Dysfunction, atrophy of the salivary glands.
6. Pathologies of some internal organs are accompanied by this symptom. These include disorders of the digestive tract, liver, cardiovascular system. Autoimmune diseases, for example, diabetes mellitus, etc. At the same time, drinking plenty of water does not solve the problem. It requires targeted treatment.
7. "Snorers" often complain of dry mouth at night during sleep. This may be a sign of frustration, or due to the influence of external factors. Why do you think it is better to sleep in the country than in a city apartment? Air humidity. Houseplants, devices for automatic ionization and humidification of indoor air contribute to the improvement of the human condition.
8. There is another reason, but it affects only the female half of humanity and only at a certain age - the menopause. In addition to the appearance of dryness in the oral cavity, there are other ailments: headaches become more frequent and aggravated, bones and joints ache, swelling of limbs, general weakness, frequent dizziness. It is necessary to pay close attention to nutrition and exercise, as well as the correct distribution of the regime for periods of wakefulness and rest.

External signs of dryness in the mouth

For a number of external signs, you can accurately determine that a person has problems with salivation. This can include redness, dryness and peeling of the lips, jam, cracks. Dry mouth leads to the fact that the tongue sticks to the sky, itches, reddens, becomes less mobile. Because of this, the person is broken articulation, there may be hoarseness in the voice. The appearance of bad breath prevents not only the person himself, but also prevents normal communication. All this, one way or another, will entail a number of psychological problems.

What do we do?

If dry mouth at night has a systemic nature, causes inconvenience and affects your well-being, something must be done. The first step is to identify and then eliminate the "pathogen". Remember that the feeling of dryness in the oral cavity is not a separate disease, but only a symptom that indicates a malfunction in the body. Symptomatic treatment should be aimed at addressing the root cause, that is, the underlying disease.

To clarify the diagnosis is better to contact the health facility and be examined.

But if the cause is not a disease, then we act differently:

• side effect of medications: replacement, failure, dose reduction;
• food and drink: do not abuse, drink plain water;
• maintaining the body's water balance: even if there is no thirst, we drink the daily rate;
• addiction: getting rid of them;
• nasal breathing control;
• snoring: replacement of the sleeping position, improvement of the microclimatic conditions of the bedroom;
• problems in the oral cavity itself: rinsing, frequent brushing of teeth, sugar-free chewing gum to provoke salivation;
• external signs: moisturizing lips.

As you can see, this problem is easily solved at home. To enhance the moistening of the oral cavity, you can resort to such means:

• artificial saliva (drug);
• spirit tincture of echinacea (10 drops per day for 1-2 months);
• inhalation: Balsam Vitaton, salt and soda, medicinal herbs - melissa, peppermint, chamomile, calendula.

But with regard to food, there are a number, well, if not restrictions, then at least warnings. For example, you should eat less dry "irritants", such as seeds, crackers, nuts and other snacks. It is desirable to eat cereal with milk or yoghurt, and dried fruits are often replaced with fresh analogues. You just do not think that these products should be completely abandoned. Just do not abuse and drink more!

Season your favorite dishes should be moderate, and if you have eaten something savory, be sure to drink water before going to bed. And a glass of mineral water without gas, put on the bedside table, in which case. Of all the specific spices, preference can be given unless cayenne pepper, because it has a special substance that stimulates the secretion of the salivary glands.

Try to consume more liquid consistency dishes. Do not pounce on very hot drinks and delicacies - what you eat should be pleasantly warm.

Do not get enough before bedtime. The interval between the last meal and going to bed should be at least 2 hours.

Observe the rule: I will eat breakfast myself, I will share lunch with a friend, and I will give dinner to the enemy. This means that the last meal should not be heavy. Dinner-consumed foods must contain a minimum of protein.

Vitamins, vitamins and more vitamins! If you do not eat enough vegetables and fruits, then take dietary supplements and vitamin-mineral complexes. Many of these drugs can be bought without a prescription, both at the pharmacy and in grocery stores. But it is better to consult a nutritionist.

When dryness appears in the mouth for no apparent reason, its permanent presence, accompanied by a feeling of discomfort and unpleasant symptoms, is an unkind sign. Do not self-medicate. Consult a doctor in a timely manner, undergo a comprehensive examination, establish the correct diagnosis and resort to the most correct solution to the problem. Once again we recall that dryness is not a disease, but only a "signal beacon" to which attention should be paid.