You wake up with a dry throat daily, likely due to mouth breathing (often from nasal congestion, snoring, or sleep apnea), dehydration, dry indoor air (especially with heating), or acid reflux (GERD), which irritates the throat overnight; allergies, smoking, alcohol, and certain medications can also contribute. Addressing mouth breathing with nasal sprays or humidifiers, staying hydrated, and seeing a doctor if it's severe or accompanied by snoring/fatigue can help.
As part of the natural fluctuation of the circadian rhythm, less saliva tends to be released at night, so a dry throat may be more noticeable in the morning. Mild dehydration is usually nothing to worry about, and can often be prevented by drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day.
To prevent waking up with an annoying dry throat, it is a good idea to drink a glass of water before bed to help prevent dehydration, avoid sleeping on your back if possible, and take steps to unclog the nose, so you do not breathe out of the mouth.
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.
It can be difficult to tell exactly what is causing a sore or dry throat as it's a common symptom of many illnesses and it can also be caused by various lifestyle factors. Colds and flu are known to cause a dry throat, and millions of Americans get these viral infections each year.
Waking up with a very sore or dry throat. This happens because apnea often causes you to breathe with your mouth open. Dry mouth, also caused by mouth breathing. Occasionally waking up with a choking or gasping sensation.
Dry mouth is a common symptom of high blood sugar in people with diabetes. Sometimes dry mouth is the first noticeable symptom of diabetes. If you have dry mouth and think you could have diabetes, talk to your healthcare provider.
A lack of essential B vitamins can lead to the development of dry mouth and other tongue symptoms. For example, low vitamin B2 and B3 can cause a swollen tongue, while low vitamin B6 can cause a sore or burning tongue.
It may be a symptom of some potentially serious health conditions, or it could be as simple as a side effect of a medication you're taking. Even if your dry mouth condition isn't avoidable, there are ways to reduce its effects.
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.
Using a humidifier once or twice a day, especially in your sleeping area at night, can help a lot. Cool or warm mist both work; use what you prefer. There are different kinds of humidifiers, including small, personal models, some with face masks and others that just direct steam in the air near you.
The deficiency of vitamin B12 finally resulted in high blood homocysteine level in BMS patients. Burning sensation, dry mouth, and numbness of the tongue were the three most common symptoms of BMS patients, and could be found in 100%, 75.7%, and 43.9% of BMS patients in this study, respectively.
Ten early signs of diabetes include increased thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, fatigue, blurred vision, slow-healing sores, frequent infections, unexplained weight loss, tingling/numbness in hands or feet, and dark skin patches, though symptoms can vary and be mild, especially with type 2 diabetes, making regular checkups crucial.
According to its proponents, you use the pinch method by holding the thumb and index finger of one hand just above the wrist of the other hand and then exerting a little bit of pressure on the wrist. Doing this will supposedly cause the release of insulin and break down glucose.
If you've noticed changes to the surface of your tongue — dryness, a burning or tingling sensation, white patches, or unusual discoloration. — and you have diabetes (or suspect you might), you're not alone.
When Should You See a Doctor? Dry throat symptoms often improve with self-care such as staying hydrated, avoiding irritants, and maintaining humid environments. However, medical advice should be sought if: The dry throat lasts more than two weeks without improvement.
Highlights. Sleep hypopnea is defined as a drop of ≥30% in breathing amplitude and in oxygen saturation >3% (AASMedicine), or >4% (CMMS). This study reveals a systematic bias, with the 3% criterion consistently yielding higher apnea/hypopnea index values.
However, there are still some common signs that should prompt you to get checked and seek treatment for sleep apnea:
There are many causes of a dry throat. A person can treat some causes, such as dehydration or the common cold, at home. Other causes require medical intervention, including GERD, obstructive sleep apnea, and strep throat. A person should contact a doctor for a persistent dry throat.
Possible symptoms include:
Vocal cord polyps are benign lesions that can develop on the vocal cords, often due to vocal abuse, irritants such as tobacco smoke, or other factors. These polyps can cause symptoms such as hoarseness, constant throat clearing, coughing, and difficulty swallowing.
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.
A study published in the Journal of Oral Health and Disease found that people who were deficient in vitamin D were more likely to have bleeding gums and dry mouth than those with adequate levels.
Symptoms. The main symptom of burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is pain in the mouth that feels like burning, scalding, or tingling. Or, the pain may happen with a feeling of numbness, which comes and goes. Other symptoms include dry mouth or altered taste in the mouth.