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Nighttime Dry Mouth
I'm a 79-year-old female with idiopathic dry mouth that has become progressively worse in the past two years. I go to bed at 11pm and will wake up every hour with dry mouth. When I wake up, I'll use either Act gum, sprays, water, or lozenges. By 5am, my mouth is so dry I have to get up and eat breakfast.
Tests for autoimmune diseases have been negative. Taking Pilocarpine gave me a headache.
Had anyone had success with products that work during the night?
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@bouf1948
I will check this out.
I keep a mini cooler in my bedroom with a hydration drink, either Gatorade Zero or Bai. It helps when my throat is exceptionally dry,
I used to drink all those 'hydrating' drinks until I found out some of the ingredients aren't good for health so my dietician switched me up to Coconut Water. It took a little getting used to the taste (it's not sweet; kind of sour, actually) but it's extremely hydrating so you don't have to drink much for hydration maybe just a big ole swig will get you back to sleep just fine without a lot of peeing!
I finally figure out that my terrible dry mouth is caused by sleeping with my mouth open. I tried the sprays and melts but to no avail. Then nose strips to keep my nasal passages open at night - better but still not great. Progressed to mouth taping, which was costly, resolved the dry mouth, but I felt it wasn’t great for my sensitive skin and long term was likely to cause more wrinkles around my mouth (I’m only 57).
Finally settled on a stretchy chin strap. Took a couple of weeks to get used to, not a sexy bed-time look (lol), but cost effective as you’re not throwing it out every day, and it keeps my jaw in place and closed while I sleep . No more dry mouth. No more waking up every hour on the hour with my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth! Highly recommend one that is adjustable on top of the head, back of the head and by the temples in a stretchy fabric so that you can adjust the fit. I bought mine on Amazon. I wash it weekly. Good luck!
For years I have slept with a sugar free cough drop in my mouth. I use about 2 a night. One for when I first fall asleep and another when I wake up in the mddle of the night to go to the bathroom. I know it sounds dangerous but I have never aspirated one and I am 84 years old right now.