DR CHRISTIAN
THE CLINIC
Q&A
Our health expert Dr Christian Jessen answers your medical queries
Got a problem, want answers? Email drchristian@attitude.co.uk
Q I often wake up in the night, or the morning, with a very dry mouth. Am I dehydrated? What can I do? Mark, Worcester
A There could be a number of causes to this problem. You may be sleeping in an air-conditioned room, your bedding may be too hot and you’re sweating a lot at night. You could indeed be dehydrated and need to drink more water. You can tell this by looking at the colour of your urine – if it’s a dark colour then you definitely need more water. Certain medications can also cause it, as can rarer conditions which affect the salivary glands. I would try drinking a little bit more water, and if the problem doesn’t go away, see your GP. It could be that you may simply snore through your open mouth all night, which would leave your mouth very dry.