If you are one of the lucky ones who falls asleep right away, well you can count your blessings. But even then, it is vital to check if you are waking up dehydrated in the mornings.
Signs of “morning-dehydration” are not that easy to catch unless you have one of the classic symptoms—dry mouth. Waking up with a dry mouth is probably one of the best ways of looking at your hydration status.
When you are adequately hydrated, you produce enough saliva and conserve enough water in your body, that your mouth would not be dry. But if you find yourself waking up with a dry mouth all the time, it is time to act.
Why do we get dehydrated at night?
Believe it or not, it is very common to feel dehydrated as you wake up, largely because you have not had the chance to hydrate quickly before you get to your routine.
And remember, we generally sleep for 8-9 hours in the night and if you do not wake up in the middle of the night to hydrate, you can get pretty dehydrated by the time you are up. And the longer your sleep, e.g. on the weekend, the more chances you are dehydrated by the next morning. And if you have something alcoholic to drink the night before that long Saturday morning sleep, you will likely end up with a dry mouth from dehydration.
Diagnosing night-time dehydration
Dehydration at night is not talked about so much. It is a norm that we rest at night and do not or should not have to wake up just to drink water.
As your body's resting from the day's work, hydration can be the last thing on your mind by the time you go to bed. In some people who are very physically active, the requirements for fluid intake are higher, particularly when the weather is hot. Here are a few symptoms which can help you assess if you are constantly dehydrated at night:
Of course, there are other reasons why you can have each of the above symptoms, so it is vital that you seek medical attention if any of these are commonly experienced. Since many of these symptoms could be from inadequate hydration, improving your hydration practices is only going to help.
What causes dry mouth in the mornings?
While dehydration may be one of the key causes, there are other medical conditions that can also cause dry mouth. Common ones include:
As discussed, seek advice from a licensed medical professional if any of these are persistent.
It is also vital to rule out any dental issues that may be causing dry mouth in the morning. Interestingly, appropriate hydration is also vital in dental health, so dehydration can cause dry mouth and affect your dental/oral health negatively.
How to prevent dry mouth in the mornings?
The first step is to understand the reason why you have dry mouth in the mornings. If most of the above have been ruled out (sleep apnea, dental or endocrine problems) then it may very well be due to chronic dehydration. Interestingly, most people are poor with drinking water or fluids during the day.
And this is where hydrating with an electrolyte drink can help. Electrolyte infused water hydrates better than water alone, because electrolytes drive water absorption through the gut via an osmotic current. Maintaining a proper electrolyte balance helps not only the body, but also your oral and dental health.
Many individuals who are deficient in electrolytes such as potassium and magnesium can constantly feel dehydrated despite drinking plain water. This is because plain water intake leads to suppression of vasopressin (a hormone which helps retain water in the body), and eventually, water is eliminated by means of urine.
Correcting electrolyte deficiencies using a drink such as MAGNAK® helps retain electrolytes in the body leaving the body better hydrated and can decrease your chances of waking up with a dry mouth. Try it today and see how proper hydration can improve your overall well being!
