What causes dry mouth and bitter taste during sleep at night?

Generally, dry and bitter mouth during sleep at night may be caused by poor sleeping habits, dietary factors, oral inflammation, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), cholecystitis, and other factors. It is recommended to seek timely medical consultation to identify the underlying cause and receive symptomatic treatment under a physician's guidance. Detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Poor sleeping habits: Breathing through the mouth during sleep causes rapid evaporation of oral moisture, leading to dry mouth. Reduced saliva production promotes bacterial growth in the mouth, causing a bitter taste, often accompanied by snoring. Adjusting sleeping posture to breathe through the nose, using nasal strips if necessary to improve nasal breathing, and drinking an appropriate amount of water before bedtime are recommended.

2. Dietary influence: Consuming excessive spicy, greasy foods or alcohol before bedtime can irritate the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract, resulting in dry and bitter mouth at night, possibly accompanied by stomach discomfort. Avoid eating 1-2 hours before sleep, abstain from alcohol, maintain a light diet, and rinse the mouth after meals to reduce irritation from food residue.

3. Oral inflammation: Conditions such as gingivitis, where dental plaque and calculus irritate the gums causing inflammation, allow bacterial proliferation that produces unpleasant odors, leading to dry and bitter mouth, often accompanied by redness and bleeding of the gums. Patients may use medications such as metronidazole mouthwash, compound chlorhexidine mouthwash, or tinidazole tablets as directed by a physician. Regular dental cleaning to remove calculus and maintaining good oral hygiene are also advised.

4. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): When lying flat at night, gastric contents may reflux into the esophagus and mouth, irritating the mucous membranes and causing dry and bitter mouth, often accompanied by heartburn and acid regurgitation. Patients may use medications such as omeprazole enteric-coated capsules, rabeprazole sodium enteric-coated tablets, or domperidone tablets as directed by a physician to suppress gastric acid secretion and enhance gastric motility. Avoid eating 3 hours before bedtime and elevate the head of the bed slightly during sleep.

5. Cholecystitis: Inflammation of the gallbladder can obstruct bile excretion, causing bile reflux into the stomach and mouth, resulting in dry and bitter mouth at night, often accompanied by right upper quadrant abdominal pain and nausea. Patients may use medications such as anti-inflammatory and bile-promoting tablets, ursodeoxycholic acid capsules, or belladonna tablets as directed by a physician to relieve symptoms. Maintain a light, low-fat diet and avoid overeating. Patients with severe gallstone obstruction may require laparoscopic cholecystectomy to remove the diseased gallbladder and restore bile excretion.

In daily life, maintaining a regular routine, avoiding late nights, undergoing regular dental checkups, and monitoring gastrointestinal function can help reduce symptoms of dry and bitter mouth, improve sleep quality through lifestyle modifications and appropriate medical treatment.