Adry throatat night isn’t usually due to an underlying problem, especially if it only happens occasionally.
This is because saliva helps wash away food particles and reduce harmful germs.
Causes
Several factors may contribute to dry mouth and throat at night.
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They range from medication side effects to sleep or health conditions.
Medications
One of the more common causes of thirst at night is using medications that cause dryness.
Mouth breathing more likely triggers when the nasal passages are blocked.
This kind of congestion can happen with:
By default, you breathe through your nose.
Nasal breathing reduces the loss of moisture from the soft tissues that line your airways.
However, when you breathe through your mouth, the movement of air quickly dries you out.
This is a consequence of the medication working to reset the nasal passage by drying out mucus.
Dehydration
You might wake up with a dry throat if you’re dehydrated.
This means that your body is releasing more water than it’s taking in.
Snoring
People oftensnorebecause there is something partially obstructing the upper airway, including the nose and throat.
This can lead to mouth breathing, which is a main cause of dry mouth and throat at night.
Sleep Apnea
This is another indirect cause of dry mouth.
Obstructivesleep apneaoccurs when there’s a blockage in the upper airway.
In people with this condition, the immune system mistakenly attacks the glands that produce saliva and tears.
If you have Sjogrens disease, it may help to keep a humidifier in your room at night.
Mononucleosis
Mononucleosis is usually sparked by the Epstein-Barr virus.
One of the first symptoms of this infection may be a dry, scratchy throat.
Diabetes
Diabetes can affect saliva production in a number of ways.
This can lead to dry mouth and throat.
The use of an inhaler can make dry mouth worse.
Beta-2 agonists in rescue inhalers can reduce the flow of saliva over time, leading to dry mouth.
Beta-2 agonists and other bronchodilators may also relax the esophageal sphincter, leading to gastroesophageal reflux.
Reflux can exacerbate dry mouth and throat symptoms.
Radiation Treatment
Radiation treatment for head and neck cancer may damage the salivary glands.
Treatment for radiation-induced xerostomia usually involves the use of medications that stimulate the production of saliva.
A range of factors may cause dry mouth, including some health conditions and sleep apnea.
Certain medications may also have a side effect of dry mouth.
Treatment depends on the cause.
If you experience these symptoms, tell your healthcare provider.
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