Dry mouth - what causes it?

[bart.willems]

Early in the morning I wake up with a dry mouth. Parchment dry. Really uncomfortable. Wakes me up, I think.

Now, before you come in with suggestions:

1) My nose tells me humidity is fine (I've gone through the whole too wet/too dry thing already)

2) I don't think it's mouth breathing. Unless I'm able to breath through my mouth while it's taped shut.

Open for suggestions!

[Jaylee]

I know that some medications can cause dry mouth. That is all that came to my mind.

[bart.willems]

Hi Jaylee, thank you for your reaction. Not taking any medication, so that's outruled.

The good news is that the problem has become less in recent nights - but it bothers me that I do not know what caused it.

[montana]

You might have your humidifier too high. Air maybe too warm.

[ZQuest]

Hello



May i suggest some Biotene mouth wash before bed time, it has help me a great deal since i had the same problem( nasal mask, mouth tape &Super dry mouth ) i still do it and is the only thing that i have found out to work for me... it might work for you also.. just an idea



Regards: Phil

[Wulfman]

Do you have T2 Diabetes?

Other than that (or other medical conditions), try turning your humidifier setting to Off and use "passover" humidification (water in the tank but no heat).


Den

[Jaylee]

Yes, try the mouthwash. I had to have some years ago when I was having chronic dry mouth. It really works.

[DreamStalker]

As has already been mentioned, it could be diabetes related or gingivitus. The Biotene suggestion is good but I would also recommend products by Dr. Katz Perio products (peroxide based oral care).

[Hawthorne]

I also use Biotene every night and find it very effective.

Sure worth a try!

[WearyOne]

I have definitely had more problems with my teeth since starting on cpap. After discussion with my dentist, he feels that my dry mouth each morning is probably the culprit. He suggested Biotene as well. I haven't tried it yet, but after reading this thread, I'm picking up some today. (I'm not diabetic and don't have gingivitis.)

[sleepmba]

You could be having a mouth leak. In the sleep lab, when patients go into deep sleep and lose muscle tone, part of their mouth may drop open. That could be anything from an all out open mouth to just a little air coming out of the corner of the mouth. Even the smaller mouth leak can cause a dry mouth.

[bart.willems]

After thinking things over, I've come to the conclusion that it's probably humidity that's too high.

I've been bumping up humidity since February since it has gradually been getting warmer. Last week we had a little heat wave in NJ - so the A/C has been blasting full force - making me sleep in a much colder room than before. Based on the feedback here I've lowered humidity two notches and that seemed to do the trick.

There's also mouth breathing - I'll have to get used to taping. But given that the problem persisted with my mouth taped shut all the way (and it didn't in the months before), I think it is primarily humidity.

Thanks everyone!

[nadlemgarcia]

The real reason why you get dehydrated is because you're not drinking the advised amount of water you should be drinking. Also, beverages such as beer cause mouth dryness and if you're really an alcoholic person you're highly prone to dehydration. I had a health finding like that last month and it is my reason why I had already stop drinking liquors and even beers.

Dentists Roseville

[slaaplekker]

I have it too and I haven't changed my fluid intake, type and frequency, so I'm ruling out that as the culprit. I've on occasion pre-CPAP had major dryness, to the point where my teeth, gumbs and tongue are numb and it hurts to drink but that was only when my sinus were so congested that I had to breathe through my mouth all night or because if medications. Since I started on saline rinses for sinus problems and changed medicationsI have rarely had an issue.

Until CPAP that is. Now I wake up with a sore throat ever morning. I also recently had O2 nightly added so that may cause some extra dryness. From past work experience I know that O2 can be a major desiccant for those on O2 therapy.

My wife uses the Dr. Katz products and likes them. I haven't tried them myself but have considered the Biotene and I've found something on line called Oasis that is supposed to work too. I have something from the dentist for gingivitis that I haven't used since starting CPAP, since the gingivitis is no longer a problem, I might give that a try tonight. It was prescription item and it tastes pretty bad.

I think your best bet is the Biotene or Oasis since it looks like you have ruled out the other causes. To be honest I think there is just a lot more air moving through my throat then there was pre-CPAP and at least where I live that air is pretty dry even with the humidifier. Since I'm not moving my tongue as much at night, I also think that the saliva glands just slow down a bit since there is so little activity and what is produced doesn't get moved around because of head gear and sometimes I tape or use a mouth guard. The idea is not to open your mouth so normal movement of any saliva produced is going to be curtailed. All of those things I think contribute to why I end up with a dry mouth and a sore throat.

Though nothing as bad as the ones I used to have in July and August from allergies closing off my sinuses.

Good Luck
John

[echo]

You might also want to look into GERD or "silent reflux". It will not only dry up your mouth, but cause sore throat, and usually a bad taste in your mouth upon waking.