Waking up with a completely dry mouth, a rough tongue, dry lips, or a thirst that doesn’t calm down easily is a more common experience than it seems. Many people live it daily and minimize it, believing that it is due to the weather, fatigue or having slept poorly. However, when this feeling is repeated frequently, it is not something that should be ignored.
Dry mouth isn’t just an uncomfortable nuisance. In many cases, it is an early sign that the body is going through some internal imbalance that deserves attention.
Saliva: much more important than you imagine
Saliva serves essential functions for health. Not only does it keep the mouth moist, but it protects the teeth from cavities, neutralizes acids, helps digest food from the first bite, controls bacteria and fungi, facilitates speech and keeps the entire oral ecosystem healthy.
When saliva production decreases, a condition called xerostomia appears, and with it the risks of infections, persistent bad breath, sores, dental problems, and difficulty eating or speaking increase. That’s why a persistent dry mouth should never be considered normal.
Chronic Dehydration: A More Common Cause Than You Think
One of the most common causes of dry mouth is chronic dehydration. Many people expect to feel intensely thirsty in order to drink water, not knowing that thirst is a delayed sign. The body can spend hours or even days with a fluid deficit before manifesting it in an obvious way.
In addition, not all liquids hydrate in the same way. Excessive consumption of coffee, alcohol, energy drinks or soft drinks can increase water loss, as they have a diuretic effect or contain high amounts of sugar and caffeine. This worsens dry mouth if it is not compensated with enough pure water.
ADVERTISEMENT
