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From: Ron
Date: 02/20/02
Time: 06:16:03 PM
Hi Lawrence,
A dry mouth is often noticed first thing in the morning and is usually due to excessive mouth breathing. A chronically stuffy nose due to an untreated sinus infection has to be ruled out.
Reflux can also cause acid fumes to irritate your sinuses, causing swelling of delicate tissue and block your sinuses. Breathing through one side of your nose is quite normal. It is part of the self cleaning process for this to happen. It alternates from one side to the other every hour or so. You notice a stuffy nose when you have a cold because mucous blocks the open side of your nose forcing you to breathe through your mouth.
This can be worse in the colder months since the warming of cold air reduces the humidity and helps to dry you out. Add to this, the seasonal colds and flu and you have a receipe for congested sinuses.
If dryness is only a problem during the day, pay attention to your breathing to see if you are able to function with your lips together. Do your lips tend to stick to your teeth? If you don't keep your mouth closed, they will.. eventually because your teeth will become dry.
In the meantime chewing a sugar free gum should help to stimulate saliva production. It will also tend to MAKE you keep your mouth closed which will prevent the drying effect. You can't loose.
Good luck and stop worrying. One thing at a time and soon you will be back to normal.
Ron
If you find that your mouth is still dry, then your salivary glands might not be producing enough to keep you lubricated when you are awake. Swallowing once or twice each minute is about average. If I try not to swallow for about two minutes about a tablespoon full accumulates.
A condition related to rheumatoid arthritis, called "Sjogren's Syndrome" causes dry mouth and eyes. Do a search for it if you think this is a possibility.