A dry throat can occur at night or when you wake up in the morning. It is an unpleasant feeling, and your throat might feel scratchy. If you have a dry throat constantly, it can be a sign of a reason behind it. Let us discuss dry throat and the possible reasons behind them.
This is Why You Have a Dry Throat
Knowing what causes dry throat at night or any other time can help you treat it too. There are many reasons you may have a dry throat, and these include:
1. Dehydration
Your body needs water. Drinking an insufficient amount of water can lead to dehydration. Lack of water affects the saliva production in your mouth. When your body is dry, your mouth is too, and so is your throat. Low saliva production can cause a dry throat and mouth. Symptoms of dehydration include:
- Dryness in mouth and throat.
- Urinating less frequently
- A feeling of thirst
- Urine that is darker than before
- Fatigue
- A feeling of dizziness
To avoid dehydration and dry throat at night or in the morning, hydrate your body. To do so, eat hydrating meals, have hydrating drinks, and drink enough water.
2. Sleeping With An Open Mouth
Sleeping with an open mouth can dry out your throat and mouth. While you are sleeping, the air you breathe reduces saliva and moisture from your throat as well as your mouth. Hence, you wake up with a dry throat after sleeping with an open mouth at night. Breathing with your mouth while you sleep can also cause:
- Unpleasant breath
- Snoring
- Fatigue
Clearing your nasal passages might help prevent you from sleeping with an open mouth.
3. Cold
You might have a dry throat if you catch a cold. Adults and children both encounter colds, which can develop due to a viral infection. You will experience the following symptoms if you have a cold:
- Sneezing
- Your nose will be stuffed or runny
- Coughing
- A low-grade fever
- Body aches
If cold is the cause, your dry throat will go away with the virus. Viruses heal in their own time. However, warm fluids, saltwater gargles, and pain-relieving medicines can soothe your throat.
4. Strep Throat
Strep throat can be the culprit for your dry throat. Strep throat is a bacterial infection that affects your tonsils and nose. As a result, you might get a sore, dry feeling in your throat. Symptoms of strep throat include:
- White patches in your tonsils
- Swelling in tonsils
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Body Aches
- Fever
- Nausea
Your doctor will prescribe an antibiotics course for your step throat. Complete the course for fixing strep throat. Moreover, saltwater gargles can also relieve your throat.
5. Tonsillitis
When your tonsils get infected by viruses or bacteria, it is called tonsillitis. A sore and dry throat can signify tonsillitis. Other than this, the symptoms of this infection include:
- Swelling tonsils
- Redness in tonsils
- Development of white patches on tonsils
- Swollen lymph nodes in your neck
- Headache
- Bad breath
- Roughness in your voice
Other Causes:
A dry throat is a symptom of many conditions, including Flu, Allergies, Acid Reflux/GERD, Mononucleosis, etc.
Conclusion:
A dry throat at night, evening, morning, or any time of the day is equally irritating. You can try a dry throat remedy to soothe it if the cause is not severe. However, if it points to some other medical issue, it is always better to visit your doctor. We here at Waller Dental General & Cosmetic Dentistry prioritize your oral health. If you want any advice or an appointment, contact us at 936-372-2673 or info@wallerdental.com.