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

 

Linked to decreased salivary gland activity during sleep and mouth breathing, dry mouth is very common. How can you get rid of it? Advice from a dental surgeon.
In the morning, many of us wake up with a pasty mouth and a feeling of dehydration. This natural dryness of the oral cavity is linked to decreased saliva production during the night and to breathing, which often takes place 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, 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 of the people who suffer from it no longer produce any saliva at all. It is very debilitating and they have to resort to artificial saliva in the form of sprays to moisten their mouth and be able to speak but also chew normally,” explains Dr. Lequart.

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 genuinely suffering,” notes Dr. Lequart. Other causes of dry mouth include medications (certain antihistamines). Linked to decreased salivary gland activity during sleep and mouth breathing, dry mouth is very common. How can you get rid of it? Advice from a dentist.
In the morning, many of us wake up with a pasty mouth and a feeling of dehydration. This natural dryness of the oral cavity is linked to decreased saliva production during the night and to breathing, which often takes place 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, dentist 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 so they can speak and chew normally,” explains Dr. Lequart. 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,