Sleep Disorders Causes & Risk Factors What Is Dry Mouth During Sleep? By Brandon Peters, MD Brandon Peters, MD Facebook Twitter Brandon Peters, MD, is a board-certified neurologist and sleep medicine specialist. Learn about our editorial process Updated on August 04, 2022 Medically reviewed by Daniel Combs, MD Medically reviewed by Daniel Combs, MD Daniel Combs, MD, is board-certified in sleep medicine and pediatrics. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Frequently Asked Questions You shouldn’t need to drink water at night. Normally, your body’s natural fluid balance lets you get eight hours or longer of uninterrupted sleep without having to drink or eat. So, if you wake up with a dry throat at night, there is probably an underlying reason, like mouth breathing, a sleep disorder, or another health condition. What causes dry mouth and throat dryness during sleep? This article explains why your need for a nighttime glass of water might signify other problems. It also goes over symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of dry throat. Caiaimage / Tom Merton / Getty Images Dry Mouth During Sleep Symptoms Most people drink water at night simply because their mouth becomes dry. Dry mouth during sleep is sometimes called xerostomia. Feeling thirsty at night can range from relatively minor to extreme. Sometimes your tongue or throat can feel as dry as a bone. In addition to a dry tongue and throat, you may notice other symptoms, like: Mouth soreness Dry, cracked lips Bad breath (halitosis) A difference in how things taste Mouth infections Cavities and gingivitis Trouble eating, speaking, and swallowing How to Eat Well Despite Having Dry Mouth Causes Several conditions may contribute to a dry mouth. 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. These can include: Diuretics like Lasix (furosemide) Blood pressure medications Medications for treating peripheral edema (swelling in the feet) Heart failure medication Anticholinergic medications Antidepressants like amitriptyline or nortriptyline Sleeping pills that contain diphenhydramine If you are taking medications, review your medication list with your pharmacist or healthcare provider. They can help you identify any potential culprits. For example, if the symptom started with the use or increased dose of a medication, it could be the cause. Health Conditions There are also medical conditions that might cause mouth dryness. Typically, these disorders also cause other symptoms. Conditions that can cause dry mouth include: Diabetes Lupus Sjogren’s syndrome Mouth Breathing Many people experience dry mouth at night simply because they are breathing through their mouth when they sleep. Mouth breathing more likely occurs when the nasal passages are blocked. This kind of congestion can happen with: Colds Allergies Structural problems such as a deviated nasal septum or enlarged turbinates 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 the air quickly dries you out. Reasons for Drooling in Your Sleep Sleep Disorders Mouth breathing at night is often associated with snoring. It may also be a symptom of sleep apnea. These conditions may be worse when you sleep on your back or use alcohol near bedtime. Needing to drink water at night may be an early sign that you cannot breathe well while you sleep. Mouth breathing during sleep may put you at higher risk of other sleep disorders that affect your breathing at night. For example, if you use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) to treat sleep apnea, air escaping with mouth breathing may worsen the dryness. Diagnosis If you frequently experience dry mouth at night, speak with your healthcare provider about your concerns. They can begin to consider whether medications or health problems are causing it. Your doctor will perform a physical exam and take a medical history to determine whether you may have a health condition contributing to your dry mouth. In addition, they might perform specific tests, including: Blood tests, including a complete blood count (CBC) Glucose tolerance test Urinalysis Tests that evaluate dry eyes Depending on these initial tests, your doctor may investigate your breathing during sleep with a sleep study. Treatment To treat your mouth dryness, you may need to start by ensuring proper airflow through your nose. Treatment for improving airflow includes: Allergy treatment Surgery to repair structural abnormalities such as a deviated septum CPAP for sleep apnea Mouth moisteners such as Biotène Lifestyle and self-care steps can also help. These include: Avoiding sugarChewing sugarless gumDrinking enough waterConsuming less caffeineAvoiding tobacco and alcoholUsing a humidifier in your bedroom Choosing a Cool Mist or Warm Mist Humidifier Summary Dry throat and dry mouth at night can have unpleasant effects, including cracked lips, bad breath, mouth and tooth infections, and difficulty talking or swallowing. 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. A Word From Verywell You don’t have to keep a glass of water on your nightstand. If you have mouth dryness at night, seek evaluation and get back to breathing—and sleeping—better. Frequently Asked Questions Why do I wake up with a stuffy nose and dry mouth? Nasal congestion can be one reason for waking up with a dry mouth and stuffy nose. Nasal congestion is caused by swelling in the nasal passage tissues, which narrows airways and makes it hard to breathe through the nose. Nighttime nasal congestion can be caused by allergies to something in your bedroom—like dust mites, pet dander, or mold—an upper respiratory infection, or even acid reflux. Learn More: Why Congestion May Get Worse at Night Is sleep apnea related to dry mouth? Dry mouth upon waking is one symptom of sleep apnea, a breathing disorder that causes repeated pauses in breathing during sleep. Other symptoms can include chronic snoring, choking or gasping while asleep, teeth grinding or clenching, and night sweats, among others.If you experience these symptoms, tell your healthcare provider. Learn More: What Is Sleep Apnea? 5 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Dental Association. Xerostomia (dry mouth). Wolff A, Joshi RK, Ekström J, et al. A guide to medications inducing salivary gland dysfunction, xerostomia, and subjective sialorrhea: a systematic review sponsored by the World Workshop on Oral Medicine VI. Drugs R D. 2017;17(1):1-28. doi:10.1007/s40268-016-0153-9 National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Dry mouth. Stupak HD. Strategies for addressing mouth-breathing treatment with an “adequate” nose. In: Rethinking Rhinoplasty and Facial Surgery. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing; 2020:193-207. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-44674-1_9 Zhang C, Shen Y, Liping F, Ma J, Wang GF. The role of dry mouth in screening sleep apnea. Postgrad Med J. 2021;97(1147):294-298. doi:10.1136/postgradmedj-2020-137619 By Brandon Peters, MD Brandon Peters, MD, is a board-certified neurologist and sleep medicine specialist. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit