05 Mar How to Prevent Dry Mouth While Sleeping
Although, dry mouth might just seem like an annoying and uncomfortable symptom, having persistent dry mouth could negatively affect your oral health. In fact, people with persistent dry mouth symptoms develop increased risks for gum disease and tooth decay. If you struggle with dry mouth, schedule a checkup to discuss your symptoms with our dentist.
There are steps you can take to mitigate dry mouth – especially while sleeping. Following are helpful tips you can incorporate to improve your symptoms.
Increase Water Intake
Drinking water is beneficial for improving wellness. Water helps keep soft oral tissue moist, which prevents irritation and inflammation. It also helps dilute harmful oral acid that softens teeth and rinses away debris from food.
We recommend drinking at least eight full glasses of plain water throughout the day. Consider keeping a glass of water near your bedside, too, if you wake with dry mouth.
Decrease Sodium Consumption
Sodium dries the mouth, including the soft oral tissues that should stay moist. Decreasing sodium consumption can help improve your symptoms. We recommend reading the labels of everything you eat – including condiments like ketchup and salad dressings. You might be surprised to find how many packaged food items contain high levels of salt.
Restaurants and cafes tend to use high amounts of salt in their food. Preparing meals yourself will help you eliminate sodium and other unwanted items from your food.
Chew Sugar-Free Gum/Candy
Chewing sugar-free gum and sucking on sugar-free candy can help stimulate saliva production. This can be a helpful way to mitigate the discomfort associated with dry mouth. Be sure any gum or candy you consume is sugar-free, though, as sugar feeds harmful oral bacteria that contribute to oral disease.
Avoid Alcohol and Smoking
Drinking alcohol and using tobacco will dry your mouth. Since both alcohol and tobacco contribute to a number of health problems, it’s best to avoid them whenever possible.
If dry mouth persists despite incorporating these tips, contact our team at Kozlow & Rowell Dentistry to schedule an appointment with our dentist. You may also want to discuss your medication regimen, health history, and dry mouth symptoms with your primary care physician.