Dry Mouth in Pregnancy: 7 Powerful Tips for a Comfortable and Healthy Experience

Pregnancy comes with many demands, cravings, and unusual body reactions. It would be unfair to put yourself, as a pregnant woman, under any form of unnecessary stress. Yes, mom! I know you’re a superwoman but it’s time to keep that energy in reserve for your baby like avoiding dry mouth in pregnancy. This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t engage in physical activity. There must be a balance in staying active without increasing your stress level.

It is important to note that each woman’s pregnancy comes with peculiarities as regards signs, symptoms, and degree of pain. I know there are times you may go through some pregnancy blues that can make the journey unbearable. Thus leaving you wishing for your baby to pop out sooner. Pregnancy is a rollercoaster that takes you through different worlds of emotions and body adventures. One of these adventures in pregnant women is dry mouth in pregnancy.

Dry Mouth In Pregnancy, What’s That?

Sometimes, dry mouth in pregnancy is a sign the body uses to remind you to stay hydrated during pregnancy. This is because drinking lots of water during pregnancy prevents headaches and keeps the amniotic sac hydrated. Also, when you are pregnant, your body needs more fluid than usual to support your baby’s blood circulation and amniotic fluid which helps in the development of your baby.

Dry mouth in pregnancy may also involve your changing hormones as a pregnant woman; hormones play an important role within your body system. Some conditions during pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes, can also cause dry mouth in pregnancy. Read this article to find out more.

Understanding Dry Mouth in Pregnancy

Dry mouth in pregnancy occurs when the saliva glands aren’t functioning effectively. It’s not considered an official diagnosable condition but it may turn out to be a symptom of another condition. Dry mouth in pregnancy could be very uncomfortable, but home remedies can provide relief as explained in the latter part of this article.

What Causes Dry Mouth in Pregnancy?

Many factors affect the occurrence of dry mouth in pregnancy but I have highlighted quite a number below. Here are some of the most common causes of dry mouth in pregnancy:

1. Change in Hormones

Your changing hormones can cause a reduction in saliva — especially if you’re still in the first trimester — creating dry mouth in pregnancy.

2. Increase in Blood Circulation

Pregnant women have as much as 50 percent more blood flowing through them to reach the placenta and meet the baby’s needs.  So, to keep blood volume high, the body may retain water during pregnancy, and this may cause dry mouth. 

This increase in blood also causes extra fluids to be excreted through your kidneys, resulting in frequent urination. As your body loses additional fluids, you can be left with a dry mouth. Since your blood volume is higher in pregnancy, it is necessary to keep up your fluid intake. This fact alone can contribute greatly to dry mouth, especially as your blood volume increases in early pregnancy. 

3. Dehydration

This happens when your body loses water faster than it takes it in. It can be especially dangerous for pregnant women. This is because water helps your baby develop. You need more water when you’re pregnant than when you’re not pregnant. An additional 1-2 cups of water a day will help keep you hydrated. Other signs of dehydration include dizziness, feeling overheated, extreme thirst, dark yellow urine, fatigue, and headache.

4. Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes occurs only during pregnancy and can lead to high blood sugar. It often disappears completely after you give birth. Women need more insulin than usual during pregnancy and gestational diabetes has the likelihood of occurring when your body can’t produce that extra insulin to sustain you. Extreme cases of gestational diabetes can cause problems for you and your baby, but it can also be managed with proper care. This includes a healthy diet and exercise. You may also need medication or insulin.

Many pregnant women with gestational diabetes have no symptoms or only minor symptoms. In this case, it would be detected during a test. Nothing should be ignored in pregnancy no matter how mild these symptoms are.  Some of the symptoms of gestational diabetes may include excessive thirst, fatigue, and frequent urination.

5. Thrush

This is an overgrowth of a fungus called Candida albicans. Everyone has it in small amounts, but it can grow out of the normal range if your immune system isn’t working as it should. Thrush can cause a dry, cottony feeling in your mouth, in addition to white, cottage cheese-like lesions on your tongue and cheeks that may bleed if scraped, redness in your mouth, mouth soreness, and loss of taste.

6. Difficulties in Sleeping

Pregnancy can cause many sleep disorders, from not being able to fall asleep to waking up frequently at night. It can also lead to breathing issues, including snoring and sleep apnea. Snoring is mostly common during the second and third trimesters. It is more common if you are overweight, a smoker, sleep-deprived, or have conditions such as enlarged tonsils. Snoring and sleep apnea can make you breathe with your mouth open while you sleep. This makes it harder to produce saliva and dries out your mouth. If you snore and find yourself very tired during the day, see a doctor.

7. Medication

Medications, such as antihistamines, painkillers, decongestants, diuretics, antidepressants, or other prescription drugs, could be another underlying cause. There are over 400 medications whose adverse effect is dry mouth.  If you feel like your dry mouth may be a reaction to a medication or supplement prescribed for you, speak with your healthcare provider.

Symptoms Of Dry Mouth In Pregnancy

Aside from the obvious feeling of dryness, other symptoms of dry mouth in pregnancy are as follows: 

1. Constant Sore Throat

A sore throat is a painfully dry or scratchy feeling in the throat. It is one of the symptoms of dry mouth in pregnancy.

2. Difficult Swallowing

Experiencing difficulties in swallowing is another symptom of dry mouth. This is because saliva helps to soften the food chewed. Once the body isn’t producing enough fluid, it automatically becomes difficult to swallow.

Other Symptoms

Other minor symptoms include but are not limited to:

• Dryness inside your nose

• Burning feeling in your throat or mouth

• Difficulty in speaking

• Hoarseness

• Change in sense of taste

• Tooth decay

• Dry and cracked lips

• Bad breath (less fluid in the mouth results in bad breath)

Consequences Of Dry Mouth In Pregnancy

Since fluid is a very important part of pregnancy, your pregnancy could be affected greatly if there is limited fluid in your body. Some consequences of dry mouth in pregnancy are:

• It can lead to tooth decay and infection.

• Dehydration during pregnancy can cause birth defects or premature labor.

• Lack of fluid in the body can also result in severe constipation.

What Can I Do to Ease My Dry Mouth in Pregnancy?

If this question is on your mind, here are some home remedies you could try to tackle your dry mouth. Safe home remedies during pregnancy include:

When Should I See a Doctor?

Although some of these remedies involve you seeing a doctor, it’s important to see a doctor in cases where dry mouth persists as it may be a sign of an underlying disease. Also, if your pregnancy journey is accompanied by a regular dry mouth, you should always talk to your doctor even if the symptoms appear mild and aren’t causing any kind of pain.

Dental Health in Pregnancy

The health of your mouth directly affects the health of your entire body and your baby. Oral bacteria can affect your heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, and all other organs. A dry mouth can trap food in your teeth, gums, and back of your mouth, promoting bacterial growth. The low levels of saliva associated with this condition reduce your ability to fight off bacteria.

While dry mouth is usually not serious, the bacteria will build up if you don’t treat it, potentially leading to bad breath, bleeding gums, infections, and even tooth decay. An infection in the mouth due to poor oral hygiene can cause infections around the heart. Keep up with your oral hygiene and dental appointments, even when pregnant.

Dry Mouth and Tooth Decay

Poor oral hygiene in pregnancy is one of the worst things you can do to yourself. Note that poor oral hygiene is not limited to not brushing and flossing your teeth every day. Consuming a sugary diet can most likely cause tooth decay around and in between your teeth. People with dry mouth have a higher tendency to get tooth decay and are at a higher risk of gum damage. Unlike the outer tooth layer, the inner tooth layer has less resistance to acids and can decay quickly, especially without enough saliva to protect it. 

People with dry mouths may also develop decay on the lower front teeth, which are normally well protected by saliva produced from beneath the tongue. While people with dry mouth are more prone to decay, it is still preventable with the right diet and lifestyle. Thorough teeth cleaning with a suitable fluoride toothpaste is extremely important.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, dry mouth in pregnancy isn’t a matter you should worry so much about. However, if proper care isn’t taken and treatment administered on time, it could result in dental complications and the risks could heighten during the period of your pregnancy.

Having identified the risks associated with dry mouth and knowing that you are more vulnerable to dental issues, it’s vital to take proper care of your oral health. Otherwise, it could lead to a huge disaster which would affect your health, pregnancy, and baby’s health.