Electrolyte drink for dry mouth

[Lemonie]

I have been low carbing for a while but in the last month I have started getting a really dry mouth through the night which is waking me up four and five times a night. I have kept a strict diary and it doesn't seem to be food related and even stopped my epson salt baths just in case. Am pretty sure it is to do with me increasing my drinking water to 2 litres a day and low carbing/being in ketosis. Am looking to make a low carb electrolyte drink hopefully avoiding artificial sweeteners which I know is a big ask. Have made one today from rooibos tea, ginger, himalayan salt and xylitol. I didn't want to add the sweetener but it tasted awful To be hones it still does but hoping chilling makes it better :-\

 

[GrantGam]

Hello,

It may be that your increased fluid intake (although not high at all) is causing the saliva producing glands to take a back seat? That's just a guess btw...

Try chewing gum or having a sugar-free lozenge just before bed, this should help to kick start saliva production.

Are you aware whether you breathe through your mouth or nose at night? I always get a dry mouth when I have a cold as my blocked nose forces me to breathe through my mouth instead. Otherwise, I have no issues normally when breathing through my nose.

Regards,
Grant

 

[Snapsy]

Hi @Lemonie ,

I low carb too, and am very active, and get very very thirsty! I drink pints and pints of Robinson's sugar free summer fruits squash with a generous pinch of Cornish sea salt. Sounds revolting but actually if I have it without salt I actually miss it!

And I've just discovered a sporty electrolyte product called 'Zero' which I saw advertised in a running magazine. It's a tube of tablets and you dissolve one in 750ml water. It's sugar free but packed with electrolytes. Tastes foul but it might grow on me.... Have only had one.

I do struggle with hydration. Sometimes I've even resorted to Dioralyte! In your position I might want to have a Dioralyte before bed.

I too wake up many times in the night, not because of a dry mouth but because I need a wee - which is really not surprising given the volume of liquid I consume. How the raging kidney infection I'm currently suffering had even the slightest chance of taking hold I have no idea......

 

[Lemonie]

Have been making fruit infused water with lemon, lime and ginger which doesn't affect my bloods but read that lemon rots your teeth almost as bad as sugar so have stopped. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[Lemonie]

Just to update. Decided to see if I was a mouth breather in the night and to see if that was causing it. Did some googling and came up with mouth taping which is a proper technique. **Please do your own research into this before attempting to tape your mouth**. It was ok for me and I didn't wake up once in the night with a dry mouth. I now have a cheap makeup headband which I wear as a diy snoring chin strap. It isn't over tight but seems to remind me to breathe through my nose. Have also taken on board about electrolytes as am low carb. Wanted as simple and clean as possible so to a 2 litre bottle of water I add 1/4 tsp fine himalayan salt, 1/4 tsp low sodium salt (they add potassium to make up for the sodium which is good for this) and 1/2 tsp of epsom salts. It's actually quite nice once you get used to it. Really needed to get back to sleeping so thanks for all the advice.

 

[GrantGam]

Just to update. Decided to see if I was a mouth breather in the night and to see if that was causing it. Did some googling and came up with mouth taping which is a proper technique. **Please do your own research into this before attempting to tape your mouth**. It was ok for me and I didn't wake up once in the night with a dry mouth. I now have a cheap makeup headband which I wear as a diy snoring chin strap. It isn't over tight but seems to remind me to breathe through my nose. Have also taken on board about electrolytes as am low carb. Wanted as simple and clean as possible so to a 2 litre bottle of water I add 1/4 tsp fine himalayan salt, 1/4 tsp low sodium salt (they add potassium to make up for the sodium which is good for this) and 1/2 tsp of epsom salts. It's actually quite nice once you get used to it. Really needed to get back to sleeping so thanks for all the advice.

Glad you've got to the bottom of it

Grant