Evie Summers
Drooling while sleeping is a common occurrence and is usually not a cause for concern. However, excessive drooling may indicate an underlying medical condition. The position in which a person sleeps can encourage drooling, with side and stomach sleepers being more prone to drooling due to the effects of gravity. In addition, certain health issues, such as nasal congestion, acid reflux, and neurological conditions, can contribute to mouth breathing and increased saliva production, resulting in drooling during sleep. While occasional drooling is normal, frequent and excessive drooling may warrant evaluation by a healthcare professional to address any potential medical or sleep-related concerns.
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What You'll Learn
Sleeping position
While drooling during sleep is common, it can cause embarrassment, bad breath and dehydration. If you're looking to avoid drooling, one of the easiest actions you can take is to change your sleeping position.
Sleeping on your back is the best way to avoid saliva leaking from your mouth while you sleep. This is because gravity prevents saliva from seeping out of the mouth. If you sleep on your side or your stomach, you are more likely to drool as the accumulated drool can slip out from your lips when they open to breathe.
If you're having trouble staying on your back all night, you could try placing additional pillows along the sides of your body to help you stay in position. You may also need to get a new pillow, as side sleepers tend to use thicker pillows than back sleepers.
However, some people find it difficult to sleep on their back because it affects their breathing. If this is the case, you could try sleeping on your side with your head slightly elevated to avoid drooling.
If you are drooling at night and have allergies, your allergies might be the culprit. Allergy treatment could open up your sinuses and enable you to breathe more through your nose, instead of your mouth. If you are able to breathe through your nose as you sleep, you may experience less drooling. Nasal strips or a humidifier can also help to clear congestion and make breathing easier.
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Mouth breathing
To diagnose mouth breathing, a doctor or orthodontist will typically perform visual tests, breathing tests, and ask questions about symptoms and habits. Treatment for mouth breathing depends on the underlying cause and may involve surgery or medication to enable nasal breathing.
Some cultures, such as certain Native American communities, have a preference for nose breathing and associate mouth breathing with weakness and disease. Practices like yoga and myofunctional therapy also emphasize the importance of nasal breathing. Mouth taping, or using surgical tape to keep the lips shut during sleep, is another technique that may help train the body to breathe through the nose.
While mouth breathing is often associated with negative health consequences, there are times when it is necessary. For example, during strenuous exercise, mouth breathing can help get oxygen to the muscles faster. Temporary mouth breathing can also be beneficial when the nose is congested due to a cold, allergies, or other respiratory illnesses.
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Health conditions
While drooling during sleep is common, it can sometimes be caused by certain health conditions. These include:
Sleep Conditions
Sleep conditions such as sleep apnea can cause drooling during sleep. Sleep apnea is a condition in which breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep, often due to a blockage in the airway. This can lead to drooling as the body produces more saliva to moisten the mouth and throat. Other symptoms of sleep apnea include waking up frequently during the night, feeling tired after sleeping, and experiencing headaches.
Nasal Congestion
Nasal congestion can also lead to drooling during sleep. When the nasal passages are blocked, it becomes more difficult to breathe through the nose, resulting in mouth breathing. This can cause an increase in saliva production, leading to drooling. Allergies, infections, and sinus issues are common causes of nasal congestion.
Neurological Conditions
Neurological conditions can also cause drooling during sleep. Conditions such as cerebral palsy, stroke, Parkinson's disease, and Bell's palsy can affect the nerves and muscles involved in swallowing, making it difficult to control saliva and leading to drooling. In some cases, neurological conditions can also cause muscle weakness in the face, further contributing to drooling.
Infections
Infections in the mouth, such as cavities or soft tissue infections, can lead to increased saliva production as the body tries to wash away germs. This excess saliva may result in drooling during sleep. Upper respiratory infections can also cause increased saliva production, which can contribute to drooling.
Medications
Certain medications can also cause drooling as a side effect. Antipsychotic medications, such as clozapine, and benzodiazepines, such as Xanax or Valium, can increase salivation and change swallowing patterns, leading to drooling. Direct muscarinic agonists, used to treat various conditions, can also stimulate the nervous system and increase salivation.
It's important to note that if drooling interferes with your sleep or quality of life, or is accompanied by other symptoms, it's recommended to consult a healthcare professional for advice and treatment options.
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Medication
While drooling during sleep is normal, excessive drooling may indicate an underlying medical condition. If you suspect this to be the case, it is important to seek treatment.
Certain medications can cause hypersalivation as a side effect, which may lead to drooling during sleep. If you notice an increase in drooling after starting a new medication, speak with your doctor about your options, which may include switching medications.
- Antipsychotic medications used to treat schizophrenia, such as Clozaril (clozapine) and risperidone. These are known to increase salivation, especially at night.
- Benzodiazepines: a class of depressant drugs used to treat anxiety disorders, insomnia, and seizures. These can change swallowing patterns and lead to excessive drooling. They include Xanax (alprazolam), Librium (chlordiazepoxide), and Valium (diazepam).
- Direct muscarinic agonists: these medications stimulate the nervous system to treat various conditions. As a result, they also increase salivation and drooling. They include Urecholine (bethanechol), Salagen (pilocarpine), and Evoxac (cevimeline).
- Indirect muscarinic stimulants: Alzheimer's disease and dementia medications like Aricept (donepezil), Razadyne (galantamine), and Exelon (rivastigmine) can stimulate receptors that increase saliva flow.
Other medications that can reduce excess saliva production and drooling include scopolamine, glycopyrrolate, and atropine sulfate. Glycopyrrolate is delivered in the form of a patch placed behind the ear, which releases the medication continuously for up to 72 hours. However, it may cause more severe side effects.
Botox injections into the salivary glands can also help decrease saliva production by paralyzing the muscles in the area. The effects typically last for about six months and can be repeated.
If conservative measures such as therapy, medications, and botulinum toxin injections do not work, surgery may be recommended to alter or clip the salivary glands. Radiation therapy is another option reserved for severe cases.
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Treatment
While drooling during sleep is common and usually harmless, it can sometimes indicate an underlying issue. If you are concerned about drooling in your sleep, consult a healthcare professional for personalized advice. Here are some general treatment options to consider:
Change Sleep Position
Sleeping on your back can help minimize drooling. Side and stomach sleepers are more prone to drooling due to the effects of gravity on saliva. Changing your sleep position may require adjusting your pillow or acquiring a new one. For example, side sleepers typically use thicker pillows, while back sleepers often prefer thinner ones. Placing additional pillows along your sides can help you stay on your back throughout the night.
Treat Allergies and Infections
Allergies and infections, such as colds, strep throat, or sinus problems, can inflame your sinuses and block your airways. This often leads to mouth breathing, which increases drooling. Treating these conditions can help reduce drooling. Consult a healthcare professional for advice on managing allergies and infections.
Address Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder characterized by breathing interruptions during sleep. It can lead to mouth breathing, snoring, and drooling. Treatment options for OSA include continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, oral appliance therapy, and other approaches. Consult a sleep specialist or dentist for advice on managing sleep apnea.
Speech Therapy
Speech therapy can help strengthen the muscles in your mouth and throat, improving your ability to swallow and control saliva. A speech therapist can teach you specific exercises to reduce drooling.
Medications and Surgery
Review your medications with your doctor, as some drugs can increase saliva production or affect muscle control. In some cases, Botox injections may be recommended to temporarily relax the salivary glands and reduce saliva production. For severe cases of drooling that do not respond to other treatments, surgery to modify or remove the salivary glands may be considered.
Remember, it is important to consult a healthcare professional before starting any treatment, especially if you suspect an underlying medical condition.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, drooling in your sleep is normal and common. It is caused by relaxed swallowing reflexes.
Drooling in your sleep can be caused by a variety of factors, including sleeping position, mouth breathing, health conditions, and medications. People who sleep on their side or stomach are more likely to drool due to the effects of gravity.
Drooling can occur during deep sleep, but it is not necessarily an indication of deep sleep. It is more common when an individual is in a deep sleep because they swallow less frequently, allowing saliva to accumulate and seep from the mouth.
There are several ways to reduce or eliminate drooling during sleep, including changing sleep positions, treating allergies, and managing underlying health conditions. Sleeping on your back may help minimize drooling by preventing saliva from escaping the mouth due to gravity.
While occasional drooling is typically not a cause for concern, excessive and frequent drooling may indicate an underlying medical or sleep-related condition. It is recommended to consult a healthcare professional if drooling is continuous or severe.
