Hi helpful mamas :) I was wondering if any of you out there are having the same issue as me and how you solved it. With the coming of cold weather we now have our gas furnace on. We have a large humidifier running in the living room, and a small cool-mist humidifier in my bedroom and one in my daughter's room. I run the big humidifier 24-7 and the smaller ones each night. But in the middle of the night I always awaken with a terribly dry mouth and either have to get up and drink water, or if I'm too sleepy I just drift in and out of sleep and don't sleep well. I know all the humidifiers are working because the water level in each goes down and I have to refill them. My daughter and hubby don't seem to have the dryness complaint but I do and I don't know what else to do to get undisturbed sleep. Do any of you have any ideas for me? Many thanks... *peace*!
I would try a bionic breeze filtration unit as well as the dehumidifier, wet the filter of dehumidifier
Amozone has it for 27.99
I would get some nasal saline and see if that helps. Spray a whole bunch in your nose before bed and keep it by your bedside if you need to. I know your throat is dry, but this could help that too. I use some and it helps a ton! There are multiple brands but I like Simply Saline the best. It is a little bit pricey, but worth it!
it sounds to me like you might not be drinking enough water in general. or are you having allergies that are keeping you from breathing through your nose? the only time i have the dry mouth problem is when my sinuses are so blocked/swollen that i have to breathe through my mouth.
That small cool mist humidifier might not be enough for your room. I have a cheap warm mist humifidier, and I turn it on high. By morning, all of the water is gone (it runs out after about 7 hours) but it really helps. It helps to keep the room warm too.
We also have an Aprilaire whole house humidifier, and it works wonders for the whole house. They're actually not too expensive to install.
Maybe you can move the big humidifier from the living room to your bedroom for a night and see if it helps. If it does, it just means that you need a bigger humidifier for your room. Good luck!
Here's what I found:
Use a humidifier. Running a humidifier in your home will add moisture to dry, heated air. The moist air will help keep your skin, mouth, and nose lubricated, and helps prevent those nasty static shocks. Your goal is to aim for a comfortable home humidity level of between 30% and 50%. Don't crank up the humidifier higher than that, though, or you could develop another problem -- mold, fungi, dust mites, and other tiny critters. Also keep your humidifier clean so that it doesn't send dust and germs spewing into your house.
Seal your home. Prevent the cold, dry air outside from paying you an unwelcome visit. Insulate your home so you don’t have to turn up the heat. Close any air leaks in doors, windows, attics, and crawl spaces with caulk, spray foam, or weather stripping. Sealing off air leaks will also help you save money on your monthly heating bill because you'll feel warm and cozy enough to turn down the thermostat a few notches.
Hydrate often. Keep your skin and mouth moist by drinking water throughout the day. Don’t like water? Tea and juice are also good ways to rehydrate.
Shorten your showers. Long, hot showers might feel great on frigid winter mornings, but the heat and steam can really dry out your skin. Turn the water temperature down to warm -- not hot -- and use a gentle soap. Get out as soon as you're clean, or under 15 minutes, whichever comes first.
Moisturize. Rub a thick oil-based moisturizer onto your skin frequently each day, especially after you take a shower or bath. The oil in the product will lock moisture into your skin and keep it from drying out. Moisturizers come in different forms, but ointments will provide the most protection for dry skin. Make sure to apply moisturizing sunscreen with SPF 30 to exposed skin before going outside. Also apply a lip balm or petroleum jelly to protect against chapped lips. Help keep your nasal passageways moist by using salt water (saline) drops or rubbing a little petroleum jelly into each nostril gently with a cotton swab.
I have a few ideas & suggestions.
First, you need to determine if your air really is too dry. Get a hygrometer. They are quite inexpensive. 40% humidity in the house during winter should be plenty.
If it is too low, look at getting a humidifier that works in conjunction with your furnace. Ours has a little switch we turn each fall to turn a water drip on. Somehow it mixes with the air in the blower so we get moistened air coming from our vents.
Little things that can bolster humidity: Plants too. Open the dishwasher and let the dishes air dry to capitalize on the moisture and warmth. When boiling water for pasta, don't just dump the hot water down the drain - set the warm pan in the sink and let it cool naturally. (assuming no little kids can get to the hot water that is.)
If your humidity is at 40% or more, it might be you the problem lies with :(. It sounds like you are breathing through your mouth, and you need to figure out why. Are you stuffy? Dust mites irritating your airway? Check with your dentist for ideas next time you see him/her. Also check with your doctor to see if there is an underlying medical issue. Could be a minor issue that you don't notice during the summer because the moisture is high enough to compensate. If you have a chronic dry mouth, your dentist can help with that. It's important he/she know anyway because dry mouth can really mess with your teeth.
Good luck!
I think you have to look into any medications you are taking. After that, just drink more water.
I, too, sometimes wake up with a dry mouth. I've discovered that it's because I sometimes breathe thru my mouth. If I pay attention I notice that my nose is partially plugged up. I make sure to use Nasonex nasal spray each night. It's prescription and for nasal allergies.
Some people do breathe thru their mouth, routinely. I'd consider that possibility and find a way to stop it.
