Waking up with a dry mouth

Why saliva matters

Saliva does much more than keep your mouth comfortable. According to MedlinePlus, it moistens and breaks down food, washes food particles away from teeth and gums, supplies minerals such as calcium and phosphate that help fight tooth decay, and contains antibodies that help defend against infections of the mouth and throat.

Everyone has a dry mouth occasionally, for example when nervous or after a night of mouth breathing. Ongoing dry mouth, called xerostomia, is different: it can make chewing, swallowing and talking difficult, and it raises the risk of cavities and mouth infections. It is also a common, often overlooked cause of bad breath.

Common causes

Medicines are a leading cause. MedlinePlus lists some drugs for high blood pressure, depression and bladder control among them, and many people take several medicines that add up. Other causes include mouth breathing and snoring, alcohol and tobacco, Sjogren’s syndrome, diabetes, salivary gland disorders, nerve damage, and radiation or chemotherapy for cancer.

Lifestyle steps that help

• Sip water regularly through the day and keep water by the bed.
• Stimulate saliva with sugar-free gum or sugar-free lozenges. Products sweetened with xylitol avoid feeding cavity bacteria; a Cochrane review found only low-quality evidence that xylitol itself prevents cavities, so think of it as a sugar substitute rather than a treatment.
• Protect your teeth. Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and clean between teeth. Ask your dentist whether a higher-fluoride toothpaste or fluoride treatment makes sense, since dry mouth increases decay risk.
• Limit drying habits. Cut back on alcohol, caffeine and tobacco, and avoid alcohol-based mouthwashes if they make dryness worse.
• Humidify your bedroom at night, and talk to a doctor about snoring or mouth breathing, which may point to nasal blockage or sleep apnea.
• Review your medicines with your doctor or pharmacist; sometimes a dose change or alternative helps.

Where supplements fit

There is no supplement proven to restore saliva in people with ongoing dry mouth. Oral health formulas that contain xylitol or peppermint may feel refreshing for a short time, but peppermint oil itself can cause dry mouth in some people, according to NCCIH. Probiotic chewables have not been tested for dry mouth.

The most useful step is to find the cause. If dry mouth persists, a doctor can look for medication effects or conditions such as Sjogren’s syndrome or diabetes, and a dentist can help protect your teeth in the meantime with fluoride and saliva substitutes.

Morning dryness vs. all-day dryness

A dry mouth only on waking often points to mouth breathing, snoring or a dry bedroom, and it usually improves once you drink water and start the day. Dryness that lasts all day, or that comes with dry eyes, frequent thirst or new cavities, is more likely linked to medicines or a medical condition and deserves a professional look. Keeping a short diary of when your mouth feels dry, what you drank and which medicines you took can help your doctor or dentist find the cause faster. Bring a list of all your medicines and supplements to the appointment.