My mouth is dry at night and pasty when I wake up: what are the causes (and what can be done)?

 

Dry mouth, linked to decreased salivary gland activity during sleep and mouth breathing, is very common. How can you get rid of it? Advice from a dentist.

Many of us wake up in the morning with a dry mouth and a feeling of dehydration. This natural dryness of the oral cavity is linked to a decrease in saliva production during the night and to breathing, which often occurs through the mouth. " Older people are more affected because their salivary glands don't function as well, as are those with Sjögren's syndrome ," explains Dr. Christophe Lequart, a dental surgeon and spokesperson for the UFSBD (French Union for Oral Health). This autoimmune disease is characterized by a dysfunction of certain glands, particularly the lacrimal and salivary glands, and contributes to dry mouth and also dry eyes. " Some people who suffer from it no longer produce any saliva at all. It's very debilitating, and they have to use artificial saliva in the form of sprays to moisten their mouths and be able to speak and chew normally ," Dr. Lequart specifies. Another cause of dry mouth is glossodynia . Also called burning mouth syndrome or fire tongue syndrome, it manifests after menopause as painful burning sensations at the tip and sides of the tongue. " It has no identified cause and is entirely somatic, which isn't always easy to explain to our patients who are truly suffering ," notes Dr. Lequart. Other causes of dry mouth include medications (certain antihistamines, decongestants, analgesics, diuretics, antihypertensives, and antidepressants), diabetes, Hodgkin's and Parkinson's diseases, HIV/AIDS, as well as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Smoking also exacerbates

Dry mouth: sugar-free chewing gum to activate salivary glands

When dry mouth isn't related to an underlying medical condition, drinking a large glass of water first thing in the morning can alleviate this unpleasant sensation. Another solution is sugar-free gum. " Chewing, and therefore having something in your mouth, prompts the brain to send a message to the salivary glands, encouraging them to produce more saliva to initiate the first phase of digestion. This process, with salivary amylases, also reduces dry mouth ," explains Dr. Lequart. It's also advisable to limit your consumption of caffeinated beverages ( coffee, tea, and some soft drinks), which can decrease saliva flow, as well as spicy foods, which can exacerbate the feeling of dry mouth. If your bedroom is dry, you can use a humidifier. Finally, in the evening before bed, you can gargle with a glass of water containing a teaspoon of baking soda, which can neutralize the acidity associated with dry mouth. Don't hesitate to ask your dentist for advice or to consult the Ma Bouche Ma Santé website launched by the UFSBD.