A sudden dry mouth at night may be simply blamed on dehydration for many people, but in reality, this symptom can be an alarm from the body that suggests an underlying health problem.
Dry mouth, known as "thirst" in the medical field, is not just a simple sensation, but a complex physiological phenomenon involving multiple systems and mechanisms.
diabetes
Among them, diabetes is a cause that cannot be ignored. Long-term hyperglycemia can lead to a variety of complications, and dry mouth is one of the common symptoms in people with diabetes.
Dry mouth is caused by changes in osmotic pressure in the body that cause cells to lose water, which in turn stimulates the thirst center in the brain, causing the patient to feel dry mouth.
Studies have shown that salivary flow rate in diabetic patients is strongly associated with dry mouth symptoms. Decreased salivary flow rate may be related to metabolic status and medical history in patients with diabetes.
In people with diabetes, salivary gland function may be affected, resulting in decreased saliva production, which can cause a feeling of dry mouth. In addition, dry mouth symptoms in people with diabetes may also be associated with poor blood sugar control.
Elevated blood sugar levels can increase urine output, leading to water loss in the body, further exacerbating dry mouth symptoms.
Therefore, timely blood glucose monitoring and control is essential to alleviate dry mouth symptoms in diabetic patients. Blood glucose monitoring can help patients understand their blood sugar levels, evaluate the effectiveness of treatment, and adjust treatment based on the results.
The Guidelines for the Clinical Application of Blood Glucose Monitoring in China (2021 Edition) emphasize that blood glucose monitoring is an important part of diabetes management, which can help formulate a reasonable hypoglycemic regimen, evaluate the effect of hypoglycemic therapy, and guide the adjustment of treatment regimens.
Methods of blood glucose monitoring include self-glucose monitoring (SMBG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) testing, glycosylated albumin (GA) testing, and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM).
Self-glucose monitoring is the most commonly used method in the daily management of diabetic patients, and glycosylated hemoglobin testing can reflect the average blood glucose level over the past 2-3 months, which is an important indicator to evaluate long-term glycemic control.
In the treatment of diabetes, in addition to medication, lifestyle modification is also very important. A sensible diet, moderate exercise, and a good mental state can all help improve blood sugar control, which can reduce symptoms such as dry mouth.
People with diabetes should avoid foods high in sugar and fat and choose fiber-rich foods such as whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. In addition, regular physical activity can increase the body's sensitivity to insulin and help lower blood sugar levels.
Sjögren's syndrome
Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by decreased function of exocrine glands, particularly the salivary and lacrimal glands, resulting in dry mouth and eyes.
SS not only affects the quality of daily life of patients, but may also be associated with a variety of systemic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.
The clinical manifestations of Sjögren's syndrome are very diverse, the most typical of which are dry eye and xerostomia.
Dry eye symptoms include dry eyes, foreign body sensation, pain, and blurred vision; Xerostomia is characterized by difficulty swallowing, pain in the oral mucosa, changes in taste, and difficulty speaking.
In addition, Sjögren's syndrome can also cause symptoms such as dry skin, vaginal dryness, chronic cough and fatigue.
The pathogenesis of Sjögren's syndrome is not fully understood, but studies have shown that the autoimmune response plays a key role in it.
The patient's immune system mistakenly misses the salivary and tear glands of its own body, causing these glandular tissues to be attacked, resulting in inflammation and decreased function. This immune response can be related to a variety of factors, including genetics, environmental factors, and viral infections.
At present, the treatment of Sjögren's syndrome is mainly symptomatic, with the aim of alleviating the symptoms of Sjögren's syndrome and improving the quality of life. Common treatments include:
Increase water intake: Increasing water intake can help relieve dry mouth symptoms, and it is recommended that patients drink 2,000 to 2,400 ml of water per day, along with some water- and vitamin-rich fruits, such as oranges and pears.
Use artificial saliva: Artificial saliva mimics the lubricating and protective effects of natural saliva to help keep your mouth moist.
There are a variety of artificial saliva products on the market, including sprays, gels, and mouthwashes, and patients can choose the right one for their needs.
Medications: For some people, doctors may prescribe medications that stimulate salivary gland production or immunosuppressants. In addition, traditional Chinese medicine can also be used to treat Sjogren's syndrome, mainly based on the principle of nourishing yin and moisturizing dryness, nourishing yin and nourishing yin.
In addition to medical treatment, patients need to make corresponding adjustments in their daily lives: avoid dry environments: use a humidifier if necessary, maintain a suitable humidity in the room and reduce water evaporation.
Oral care: Maintain good oral hygiene, get regular dental check-ups, and use fluoride toothpaste to reduce the risk of tooth decay.
Dietary adjustment: Reduce the intake of spicy and irritating foods and eat more light, water-rich foods, such as barley, white fungus, etc.
Although Sjögren's syndrome is a chronic disease, most patients can effectively control their symptoms and maintain a good quality of life with reasonable treatment and lifestyle modifications.
For a small number of patients with comorbid visceral injuries, more aggressive treatment may be required.
Sleep-disordered breathing
Sleep-disordered breathing, especially sleep apnea syndrome, is a common sleep disorder.
The main feature of this disease is the recurrence of apnea while sleeping, which lasts from a few seconds to a few minutes. This not only seriously affects the quality of sleep, but also greatly reduces the mental state during the day.
The lack of oxygen supply due to apnea triggers a variety of physiological reactions. The body experiences intermittent hypoxemia that stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, causing an increased heart rate and increased blood pressure.
In the long run, this condition can also develop into chronic diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes, which is really worrying.
During sleep apnea, patients tend to unconsciously open their mouths to breathe due to airway obstruction. This type of breathing accelerates the evaporation of water from the mouth, leading to dry mouth.
Not only is it uncomfortable at night, but it can also lead to oral health problems such as periodontal disease and tooth decay. It's just "adding insult to injury".
持续正压呼吸机（Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, CPAP）是治疗睡眠呼吸暂停综合征的“救星”。
It improves the patient's sleep quality by providing a steady positive airflow in the airway, keeping the airway open, thereby reducing or eliminating apnea events. To put it simply, it is to stop you from "holding your breath" at night.
The use of CPAP can significantly reduce apnea and hypopnea events, improve sleep quality, relieve daytime symptoms, and play an active role in the treatment of a variety of conditions.
Studies have shown that CPAP therapy not only improves breathing patterns at night, but also reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and improves patients' quality of life. In this way, not only will you sleep well, but your body will also benefit.
CPAP devices typically consist of a mask, a connecting tube, and a machine that generates positive airflow. The patient wears a mask while sleeping, and the machine provides airflow based on the set pressure level.
While it may take a while to get used to at first, most patients are eventually able to adapt and benefit from it.
Although CPAP is effective, there are some potential problems. For example, some people may find the mask uncomfortable or disturbed by the noise of the machine.
In addition, if the equipment is not properly maintained, it can also lead to respiratory infections. Therefore, proper use and maintenance of CPAP equipment is key to ensuring treatment effectiveness.
If you or a family member has nocturnal apnea, don't hesitate to see a doctor. A good night's sleep will not only make you feel refreshed during the day, but also protect your health.
Hyperthyroidism
When thyroid hormone levels are too high, it causes a series of physiological changes, including increased oxygen consumption, increased heat production, and faster heat dissipation, resulting in the patient needing more water to maintain water and electrolyte balance and normal physiological functions in the body.
Thyroid hormones have a wide range of effects on the human body, not only promoting growth and development, but also regulating metabolism. During childhood and adolescence, thyroid hormones are essential for the development of bones, brain, and reproductive organs.
In adults, thyroid hormones maintain the metabolic activity of tissues and cells, regulating growth, development, reproduction, and aging.
Common symptoms in patients with hyperthyroidism include palpitations, anxiety, excessive sweating, heat intolerance, and weight loss.
Dry mouth is also one of the typical symptoms of patients with hyperthyroidism, due to the accelerated metabolism and the rapid depletion of water in the body, resulting in a decrease in the moistness of the mouth, and patients often feel dry mouth. In addition, hyperthyroidism can also lead to sleep disturbances, mood swings, muscle weakness, and other problems.
Because patients with hyperthyroidism have a strong metabolism, sweat a lot, and lose water from the body quickly, it is necessary to ensure adequate water intake.
It is recommended that patients with hyperthyroidism should drink about 2500 ml of water per day to maintain water balance in the body. At the same time, caffeinated beverages such as coffee and tea should be avoided to avoid aggravating symptoms.
Patients with hyperthyroidism should pay attention to the "three highs and one low" in their diet, that is, high calorie, high protein, high vitamin, and low iodine.
Because patients with hyperthyroidism consume too much, it is necessary to appropriately increase the intake of total calories, proteins, and vitamins. Also limit iodine intake, which is the raw material for the synthesis of thyroid hormones, and too much iodine may worsen symptoms.
In addition, patients with hyperthyroidism should avoid eating irritating foods, such as spicy foods, alcoholic beverages, etc., so as not to stimulate the secretion of thyroid hormones.
In addition to the above-mentioned conditions, there are other factors that can also cause dry mouth at night, such as medication side effects, chronic dehydration, environmental factors, etc.
Therefore, when there is persistent nighttime dry mouth, it is important to seek medical attention promptly for a thorough examination to rule out potential health problems
References are as follows:
[1] Study on the correlation between saliva flow rate and dry mouth in diabetic patients
[2] Xerostomia in diabetes