Avoid Drooling While Asleep: Deviantart's Guide To Peaceful Slumber

Drooling in your sleep is a common occurrence that can be caused by various factors, including sleep position, nasal congestion, sleep apnea, and certain medications. DeviantArt, a popular online art community, features several artworks exploring the theme of drooling while sleeping. These artworks, such as You drool when you sleep by StaticColour and Sleeping and Drooling by ryuuen, offer creative interpretations of this phenomenon. While drooling during sleep is typically harmless, it can sometimes indicate underlying health issues, emphasizing the importance of seeking medical advice if excessive or persistent drooling occurs.

Causes of drooling while sleeping

While drooling during sleep is common and usually not a cause for concern, it can lead to embarrassment, bad breath, and dehydration. Drooling occurs when you produce too much saliva, have difficulty keeping saliva in your mouth, or experience impaired swallowing. This can be due to several factors, including your sleeping position, mouth breathing, certain medications, or underlying health conditions.

Your sleeping position can significantly impact drooling. Side and stomach sleepers are more prone to drooling because gravity pulls saliva down towards the pillow. Additionally, sleeping with your mouth open further increases the likelihood of drooling. Changing your sleep position to sleeping on your back may help minimize drooling.

Mouth breathing is another common cause of drooling. Conditions such as sleep apnea, infections, allergies, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can lead to mouth breathing and subsequent drooling. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), in particular, causes temporary pauses in breathing, often resulting in mouth breathing and increased drooling.

Certain medications can also cause excessive drooling as a side effect. These include antibiotics, antipsychotic drugs, and medications for Alzheimer's disease. It is important to consult a doctor before discontinuing any prescribed medication.

Underlying health conditions, particularly neurodegenerative disorders, can also lead to impaired swallowing and excessive drooling. For example, a significant proportion of people with Parkinson's disease and cerebral palsy experience excessive salivation. Other conditions such as traumatic brain injury and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) can also contribute to drooling during sleep.

If you are concerned about excessive drooling, it is recommended to consult a healthcare professional. They can help determine if your drooling is related to an underlying health condition and provide personalized advice or treatment options.

Sleep position and drooling

Drooling in your sleep is often perfectly normal. However, if it happens suddenly, frequently, or excessively, it may signal an underlying health condition. During sleep, the muscles in your face and body relax, and your mouth may fall open, causing excess saliva to escape. Your sleep position can play a role in whether you drool or not. If you sleep on your side or stomach, drool may be more likely to escape from the sides of your mouth. Adjusting your sleep position to sleeping on your back may help reduce drooling.

Several factors can contribute to drooling while sleeping. One common reason is mouth breathing due to congestion, nasal anatomy, or sleep apnea. If you're congested from a cold or allergies, you may breathe through your mouth, leading to drooling. Treating allergies with medication or keeping allergens out of your home can help improve nasal breathing. A deviated nasal septum, which is an off-center or uneven septum, can also restrict airflow and cause mouth breathing. Managing this condition with medication or surgery can help reduce drooling.

In addition to sleep position and nasal-related factors, certain medications can also cause drooling as a side effect. These include sedatives, antipsychotic drugs, some antibiotics, Alzheimer's medications, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). If you suspect that your medication is causing drooling, consult your healthcare provider before making any changes.

Furthermore, early pregnancy and certain health conditions can lead to increased saliva production or difficulty swallowing, resulting in drooling during sleep. Some of these conditions include neurological disorders such as stroke, Parkinson's disease, cerebral palsy, Huntington's disease, Bell's palsy, and vitamin B12 deficiency. If you experience excessive drooling and are concerned about your health, it is recommended to seek advice from a healthcare professional.

Health conditions related to drooling

Drooling, or sialorrhea, is characterised by saliva unintentionally flowing out of the mouth. While drooling is normal in infants and toddlers, it can sometimes be a sign of an underlying health condition.

Neurological Disorders

Drooling can be caused by several neurological conditions, including:

• Parkinson's disease
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Cerebral palsy

Infections

Certain infections can also lead to drooling, such as:

• Peritonsillar abscess
• Strep throat
• Sinusitis
• Retropharyngeal abscess
• Epiglottitis

Other Medical Conditions

Other health conditions that can cause drooling include:

• GERD (chronic acid reflux)
• Pesticide poisoning
• Bites from certain insects or snakes
• Pregnancy side effects, such as acid reflux or nausea
• Allergies
• Side effects of certain medications

Sleeping Position

Your sleeping position can also contribute to drooling. People who sleep on their side or stomach are more likely to drool due to the effects of gravity.

If you have concerns about drooling, it is recommended to consult a healthcare professional, especially if it interferes with your daily life or causes embarrassment. Treatment options are available and can include medication, motor therapy, and, in severe cases, surgery.

Medication side effects

While drooling during sleep is common and often normal, it can sometimes be caused by medication side effects. Excessive salivation and drooling can be side effects of certain medications, including antibiotics, antipsychotics, sedatives, and drugs used to treat Alzheimer's. Additionally, some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can also cause drooling.

If you are taking medication and experiencing drooling, it is important to consult your healthcare provider to determine if your medication is causing this side effect. Do not stop taking your medication without first speaking to your doctor. They may recommend alternative medications that are less likely to cause drooling.

In some cases, medication side effects may not be the primary cause of drooling but could be a contributing factor. For example, certain medications can lead to nasal congestion, which can then result in mouth breathing and increased drooling.

If you are concerned about drooling while you sleep and potential medication side effects, be sure to discuss it with your healthcare provider. They can help identify the underlying cause and provide personalized advice or treatment options.

Prevention and treatment

Drooling during sleep is a common occurrence and is usually not a cause for concern. However, if you are worried about drooling excessively, there are several strategies you can try to prevent or reduce it. Here are some measures you can take:

• Change your sleeping position: Sleeping on your back can help minimise drooling. Gravity will keep the excess saliva in your mouth or throat, preventing it from seeping out. If you sleep on your side or stomach, try switching to your back. You can use additional pillows along your body to help stay in this position.
• Treat allergies and sinus problems: Allergies and sinus infections can lead to a stuffy nose, causing you to breathe through your mouth. Treating allergies can help open up your sinuses and enable you to breathe more through your nose, reducing the likelihood of drooling.
• Prop up your head: Using a pillow with the right height and thickness can help minimise drooling. For back sleepers, a medium loft pillow made of materials like down or down alternative is recommended.
• Stay hydrated: Drinking enough water during the day can help reduce excess saliva production, which is a common cause of drooling. Aim for 64 ounces of water, and keep some by your bed to stay hydrated at night.
• Use a mouthpiece: A mouthpiece or mouthguard can help control excess drooling. While it may lead to increased drooling initially, your mouth will adjust to it over time. Custom-made mouthguards from your dentist may be more comfortable and effective.
• Consider medication: Consult your doctor about medications such as scopolamine or glycopyrrolate, which can help reduce drooling. However, these medications may have side effects like an increased heart rate.
• Botox injections: Botox injections into the salivary glands can prevent them from overproducing saliva. This treatment is safe and effective, with few side effects, but it is not a permanent solution. The effects last for about 6 months, and you will need repeat injections.
• Mandibular devices: These oral appliances are worn during sleep to reduce drooling, snoring, and teeth grinding. They keep your lips closed and your tongue and teeth in the correct position.
• Speech therapy: This can help improve jaw stability, tongue strength, and mobility, enabling better swallowing and reduced drooling.
• Medication for neurological conditions: If your drooling is due to a neurological condition, your doctor may prescribe medication to block nerve impulses to your salivary glands, reducing saliva production. However, these medications often have side effects like a dry mouth.
• Surgery: In severe cases of hypersalivation, surgery may be considered as a last resort. Surgical methods include removing or altering salivary glands or reducing nerve connections to the glands.

Remember, if you are concerned about excessive drooling, consult a healthcare professional. They can assess your situation, determine if there are any underlying health conditions, and provide personalised advice.

Frequently asked questions