What causes dry mouth and throat every morning?
Disease description:
Every morning this week, I’ve woken up feeling extremely thirsty—even though I drink plenty of water before bed—and I’m also experiencing edema. I’d like to know what’s causing this persistent morning dry mouth and thirst.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. He Haochen
Waking up each morning with a dry mouth and tongue is commonly caused by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or oral infections. In OSA, chronic mouth breathing occurs; patients often also experience snoring and bruxism (teeth grinding), necessitating a sleep study for diagnosis. Oral infections, in addition to causing the aforementioned symptoms, can exacerbate bacterial growth overnight—especially when food debris remains in the mouth—leading to significant inflammation and resulting in dry mouth and tongue. As part of daily self-care, patients may drink chrysanthemum tea and increase their dietary intake of vitamin C to help improve overall health.
