Dry mouth at night (xerostomia) can stem from deficiencies in several vitamins, particularly B vitamins (B2, B3, B12) and Vitamin D, as well as minerals like iron and zinc, which are crucial for saliva production, moisture balance, and healthy mucous membranes in the mouth, disrupting normal salivary function. While vitamin deficiencies are a cause, many other factors like medications, dehydration, and underlying conditions can also contribute.
Changing hormones during pregnancy can narrow your throat and nasal passages, contributing to these breathing issues. Snoring and sleep apnea may cause you to breathe through your mouth during the night, which may lead to a dry mouth due to decreased saliva production.
B12 deficiency can trigger specific food cravings, most notably for meat, fish, or eggs, as the body seeks animal-based sources to replenish the vitamin, especially in those on vegetarian/vegan diets or older adults. While cravings for sugary or salty foods can also signal general B-vitamin issues, the distinct urge for protein-rich animal products is a key indicator, but professional testing is crucial for confirmation.
Deficiencies in fiber, potassium, vitamin B6, iron, calcium, and zinc can all cause dry mouth.
The deficiency of many nutrients including magnesium, niacin, riboflavin, cobalamin, coenzymes Q10, carnitine, α-lipoic acid and vitamin D is associated with migraine. Some researchers postulate that mitochondrial dysfunction and impaired antioxidant status can cause migraine.
Here are 10 unexpected signs of a vitamin D deficiency that may surprise you.
The worst symptoms of B12 deficiency involve severe neurological damage, including severe memory loss, confusion, dementia, psychosis, hallucinations, balance problems, trouble walking, and irreversible nerve damage (neuropathy), alongside serious mental health issues like severe depression or irritability, with physical signs including extreme fatigue, pale skin, and a sore, smooth tongue. These severe cognitive and neurological issues are the most concerning because they can become permanent if left untreated.
Cutaneous manifestations associated with vitamin B12 deficiency are skin hyperpigmentation, vitiligo, angular stomatitis, and hair changes. A diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency is often overlooked in its early stages because these signs are not specific to vitamin B12 deficiency alone.
Dehydration - not drinking enough fluid can cause thick saliva and a dry mouth. Other causes of dehydration include medical conditions such as blood loss, chronic diarrhoea or kidney failure.
(Vitamin B2 Deficiency)
Riboflavin deficiency usually occurs with other B vitamin deficiencies. Symptoms and signs include sore throat, lesions of the lips and mucosa of the mouth, glossitis, conjunctivitis, seborrheic dermatitis, and normochromic-normocytic anemia. Diagnosis is usually clinical.
Vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms develop gradually and include extreme fatigue, pale skin, shortness of breath, headaches, and nerve issues like numbness or tingling in hands/feet, plus cognitive problems such as memory loss and confusion, often linked to anemia but also affecting nerves and brain function, requiring medical diagnosis and treatment.
Dry mouth at night is more likely to cause cavities and other dental issues. Use a cool-mist humidifier, especially if you breathe through your mouth at night. Keep lip balm handy. Drink plenty of water.
Vitamin A
But in some cases, taking high doses of vitamin A can result in a sore, dry mouth and cracked lips.
Dry mouth often is due to aging, the side effects of certain medicines or radiation therapy for cancer. Less often, a condition directly affecting the salivary glands can cause dry mouth. You also may experience dry mouth temporarily if you are thirsty or feel anxious about something.
Sjogren's (SHOW-grins) syndrome is a disorder of your immune system identified by its two most common symptoms — dry eyes and a dry mouth. The condition often accompanies other immune system disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
Symptoms can include:
Dry mouth and upset stomach can be from gastroenteritis or food poisoning, causing vomiting and dry mouth. Medications can cause these symptoms. These symptoms can be seen as part of end-of-life care. They can be seen from dehydration and poor intake from gastric, esophageal, ovarian, pancreatic, or biliary cancers.
Vitamin B12deficiency symptoms may include:
The Boots Vitamin B12 Blood Test Kit checks your vitamin B12 levels, using a finger-prick blood sample. Use of this kit requires internet access. All personal data in relation to this product, services and online platforms are collected and processed by MyHealthChecked.
People need vitamin B-12 for the brain to work well. If not treated, vitamin B-12 deficiency can lead to issues with the nerves, brain or spinal cord. These might include lasting tingling in the hands and feet or trouble with balance.
If you have vitamin B12–deficiency anemia, you may have the typical symptoms of anemia at first, such as fatigue, paleness, shortness of breath, headaches, or dizziness. If left untreated, you may start to notice brain and nervous system symptoms.
The foods highest in Vitamin B12 are animal products, with clams and liver (beef, lamb) being exceptionally rich sources, often providing several hundred percent of the daily value in a single serving, alongside seafood like mussels, sardines, and salmon, dairy, eggs, and fortified cereals and nutritional yeast for vegans.
The best form of B12 is often considered methylcobalamin, as it's a naturally occurring, active form the body uses immediately, though adenosylcobalamin is also an active form, with a combination often recommended for better results, especially for deficiency or absorption issues, while cyanocobalamin, a cheaper synthetic option, is effective but requires conversion and is less ideal for some. For general supplementation, natural forms like methylcobalamin or adenosylcobalamin are preferred for better retention.