Herbie Murray
If you're struggling with excessive drooling while sleeping, you're not alone. Drooling is caused by relaxed swallowing reflexes but can also be a symptom of a health condition. While occasional drooling is common, excessive and frequent drooling may signal an underlying issue. Here are some tips to help you sleep better with less drooling: change your sleep position, treat allergies, try speech therapy, use mandibular devices, or consult a doctor for advice on injections, medication, or surgery.
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What You'll Learn
Sleep on your back
Sleeping on your back is one of the simplest ways to reduce drooling while you sleep. When you sleep on your back, gravity helps to keep any excess saliva in your mouth or throat, rather than allowing it to seep out of the sides of your mouth.
If you sleep on your side or front, gravity will pull saliva down towards your pillow, and it is more likely to escape your mouth. Sleeping on your back can therefore help to minimise drooling.
If you are a side or stomach sleeper who sleeps with their mouth open, you may be even more likely to drool. Sleeping on your back can help to prevent this.
If you are having trouble sleeping on your back, it might be because it's harder for you to breathe in this position. Take note of whether you feel stuffy or congested, or if you get acid reflux when trying to sleep on your back. If this is the case, you may need to treat any allergies or sinus issues before you can sleep comfortably on your back. You could also try using extra pillows to help you stay in position.
Sleeping on your back is a good way to control the flow of saliva, but it is not the only way. You can also try to breathe through your nose and keep your mouth closed while you sleep.
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Treat allergies
Allergies can cause a blocked nose, forcing you to breathe through your mouth, which can trigger saliva production in your sleep. If you are experiencing a cold, strep throat, or seasonal allergies, these conditions can inflame your sinuses and block your airways, causing you to breathe through your mouth and drool more than usual.
Treating allergies can help manage drooling. 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 instead of your mouth, you may experience less drooling.
Treat seasonal allergies with over-the-counter antihistamines like Claritin or Zyrtec. If you have an upper respiratory infection, it might be best to let the illness run its course. However, if it lasts for more than one or two weeks, consult your doctor for advice.
If you are experiencing a lot of saliva and think it might be due to allergies, consider consulting a healthcare professional. They can provide guidance and recommendations tailored to your specific situation.
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Inject botulinum toxin into salivary glands
Injecting botulinum toxin into the salivary glands can help prevent them from overproducing saliva. This procedure is typically carried out on children under general anaesthetic, but it can also be done on adults. The salivary glands lie along the jawline, and a doctor will insert a small needle through the skin into the glands, using ultrasound imaging to guide them. The botulinum toxin is then infused in and around the gland, and the needle is removed. The procedure lasts about 30 minutes, and there is no need for a dressing as the puncture in the skin is tiny.
The effects of the injections typically last for around six months, and they may need to be repeated. The injections are not a permanent solution, and they are not effective for everyone. However, you should notice a reduction in drooling within three to eight days. The botulinum toxin can affect the muscles in the jaw, making chewing more difficult, and there is a small chance that the nerves around the salivary glands could be affected, which could cause swallowing difficulties.
Botulinum toxin is produced naturally by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, and when purified, it can be used in tiny, controlled doses to relax excessive muscle contraction. It has been used as a medicine for many years, particularly to treat neurological conditions such as cerebral palsy, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis.
If you are experiencing excessive drooling, it is important to consult a healthcare professional as it may be linked to other issues such as sleep apnea, sinus infections, or allergies.
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Use mandibular devices
Mandibular devices are oral appliances that can help you sleep better if you experience excessive drooling. They are designed to help reduce drooling, snoring, and teeth grinding by keeping your lips closed and your tongue and teeth in the correct position.
Mandibular devices are also called mandibular advancement devices (MADs) or mandibular repositioning devices (MRDs). They are dental devices or mouthpieces that you wear in your mouth while you sleep. They work by pulling your jaw or tongue forward, which opens up your airway and helps you breathe better. This can be especially helpful if you have sleep apnea, a condition where your throat muscles relax and block your airway, causing you to stop breathing for short periods during sleep.
If you are considering using a mandibular device, it is recommended that you speak with a dental professional or a sleep apnea treatment specialist. They can help determine if a MAD is the best option for you and provide recommendations tailored to your specific needs. Mandibular devices may have some side effects, such as jaw joint problems and pain, and they may not be suitable for everyone. For example, people who wear dentures or have severe dental issues may not be able to use them.
You can find mandibular devices for sale online or at specialty surgical supply stores. However, it is best to have a device that is custom-made for your mouth. Your dentist will ensure a comfortable fit and provide instructions on how to care for your device. It may take some time to adjust to sleeping with a mandibular device, but for most people, it eventually becomes part of their nighttime routine.
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$10.98 $14.09
Limit sugary foods
While drooling during sleep is normal, excessive drooling can be a sign of another medical or sleep-related condition. If you are drooling a lot while sleeping, it may be worth considering the amount of sugary foods in your diet.
Consuming sugar can disrupt the balance of hormones and neurotransmitters that regulate the sleep-wake cycle, such as cortisol, melatonin, and serotonin. This can lead to sleep disturbances and a decrease in slow-wave sleep, the deepest and most restorative stage of sleep. Sugar can also increase the likelihood of waking up during the night due to spikes and crashes in blood sugar levels, leaving you feeling hungry, thirsty, or needing to use the bathroom. Additionally, sugar can stimulate the brain, making it difficult to fall asleep and potentially leading to insomnia.
To reduce the impact of sugar on your sleep, it is recommended to limit your consumption of added sugars. This can be challenging as added sugars are often hidden in processed foods. The American Heart Association recommends that women limit their added sugar intake to 6 teaspoons per day, while men should aim for 9 teaspoons or less. Timing your consumption of sweets can also make a difference. It is best to have a sweet treat after a balanced meal, as the fiber and protein will help prevent blood sugar spikes. Enjoying a dessert at lunchtime gives you more time before bed to burn off the sugar, making it less likely to disrupt your sleep. Opt for fruit juice with breakfast, a soda or dessert at lunch, or a light sweet after an early dinner instead of a sugary bedtime snack.
In addition to limiting sugary foods, you may also want to try other methods to reduce drooling during sleep. Sleeping on your back can help minimize drooling by utilizing gravity to prevent saliva from escaping your mouth. You can also try using mouth tape to encourage breathing through your nose and keeping your mouth closed while you sleep. If drooling persists or is accompanied by other symptoms, consult a healthcare professional as it may be indicative of an underlying condition.
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Frequently asked questions
Reducing your sugar intake and drinking more water can help to reduce saliva production.
Sleeping on your back can help to prevent drooling. This is because gravity will prevent saliva from escaping your mouth.
Drooling while sleeping can be caused by a variety of medical reasons, including sleep apnea, sinus infections, allergies, acid reflux, and neurological conditions such as cerebral palsy or Parkinson's disease.
Mandibular devices are oral appliances that can be worn while sleeping to help reduce drooling. These devices help to keep your lips closed and your tongue and teeth in the correct position.
