Dry Mouth at Night: Should You Be Concerned?

Do you often wake up in the morning with dry mouth? Or perhaps you wake up several times in the middle of the night to have a glass of water? You might be tempted to just dismiss that dry mouth as thirst, plain and simple. But what most people don’t realize is that having an excessively dry mouth can be a cause for concern.

According to SELF Magazine, there are many causes of dry mouth. One of these could be due to a deviated septum: “Anyone with a deviated septum or nasal polyps may have a hard time breathing through the nose, so they’ll breathe through the mouth. You might think this is normal for you and may not even realize you have a deviated septum.”

The Link Between Dry Mouth and a Deviated Septum

Breathing through the mouth is the main culprit behind the dry mouth phenomenon. We normally breathe using our noses, in which the air is warmed first before it goes to our lungs. However, a person having difficulty breathing through the nose will be forced to take in cold, dry air through the mouth, causing the saliva inside to dry down. The absence of saliva causes that uncomfortable, dry sensation.

Too much breathing through the mouth can put a strain on your sinuses and lungs and could be a symptom of an underlying medical condition. There are many reasons why people will breathe through the mouth instead of through the nose. People suffering from chronic sinusitis often experience nasal inflammation, making it difficult for them to breathe especially when lying down.

Sleep apnea is another reason why people experience dry mouth. A person who has sleep apnea will stop breathing temporarily while asleep, causing the tissues at the back of the mouth to fall back and block the air passages. The sleeping person is then forced to breathe through the mouth instead.

Another often overlooked reason is a deviated septum. The septum is that wall of tissue that separates your nasal cavities, and should, ideally, be in a straight line. But when it gets crooked, the airflow that comes through the nose gets restricted, causing you to breathe using your mouth.

Why You Need to Consult a Sinus Surgeon

Under normal circumstances, a healthy adult should be able to produce adequate amounts of saliva to prevent dry mouth, which is why if you often wake up and experience excessively dry mouth, I would try not to think of it as mere annoyance. This could be your body signaling you that something is wrong.

Consulting a sinus doctor at this point may seem to be making a big deal out of nothing, but if the dry mouth is accompanied by other signs such as nosebleeds, headaches, colds, and snoring, it could be an indication of a serious medical condition that needs to be looked at by a Los Angeles sinus doctor.

Here at the Los Angeles Sinus Institute, we can conduct tests to rule out the possible causes behind your symptoms, properly diagnose your condition, and recommend the best treatment plan.

How Septoplasty Can Treat Your Dry Mouth

While many of the causes of dry mouth can be easily fixed by drinking more water, observing dental hygiene, or installing a humidifier, a deviated septum requires something a bit more complicated.

A surgery called septoplasty is needed in order to correct the form of your septum. Once your septum’s shape has returned to normal, you’ll be able to breathe easier during your sleep and prevent dry mouth in the morning. Contact us today to learn more and schedule a consultation with our ear, nose, and throat specialist.