Evie Summers
Drooling in your sleep is a common occurrence that can be caused by various factors. While it is usually not a cause for concern, it can be unpleasant and embarrassing for many people. Drooling occurs when there is excess saliva in the mouth, which can be due to producing too much saliva, open-mouth breathing, or difficulty swallowing. Certain sleeping positions, such as sleeping on the side or stomach, can also increase the likelihood of drooling, as gravity pulls the saliva down towards the pillow. In some cases, drooling may be a symptom of underlying health conditions, such as neurological disorders, sleep apnea, or allergies. Treatment options for drooling include changing sleep positions, treating allergies, or using mandibular devices.
Characteristics and Values Table for Drooling in Sleep
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Occurrence | Drooling during sleep is common and normal |
| Reasons | Sleeping position, mouth breathing, health conditions, medications, sinus issues, allergies, infections, acid reflux, neurological conditions, producing too much saliva, difficulty swallowing |
| Effects | Bad breath, dehydration, embarrassment, chapped lips, dry skin around lips, angular cheilitis, pneumonia |
| Treatments | Changing sleep position, staying hydrated, treating allergies, oral appliance therapy, surgery, radiation therapy, Botox injections, mandibular device, speech therapy, physical therapy |
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What You'll Learn
Sleep position
While drooling during sleep is normal, certain factors may cause you to drool more than usual. One of these factors is your sleep position.
When a sleeper lies on their back, gravity generally causes any excess saliva they produce to stay in their mouth or travel to their throat. In contrast, if you sleep on your side or stomach, gravity is more likely to pull saliva down toward the pillow, resulting in drooling. If you are a side or stomach sleeper who sleeps with their mouth open, you may be even more likely to drool during sleep.
Therefore, switching to sleeping on your back may be a quick fix to reduce drooling. A wedge pillow can help a person stay in this position all night. Additionally, placing extra pillows along the sides of your body can help you stay on your back throughout the night.
However, if you have always been a stomach or side sleeper and have only recently started drooling, the cause could be a medical condition such as allergies, infections, or acid reflux. Thus, if you are concerned about excessive drooling, you should consult a healthcare professional to assess whether your drooling could be a sign of an underlying health condition.
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Mouth breathing
Drooling during sleep is a common occurrence and is usually nothing to worry about. However, excessive drooling may indicate an underlying condition.
To address mouth breathing, it is essential to treat the underlying cause. For example, nasal congestion due to colds or allergies can be managed with medications, saline nasal mists, sprays, or decongestants. Adhesive strips applied to the bridge of the nose can also help open the airways and promote nasal breathing. In some cases, surgery or medication may be required to enable people to breathe through their noses effectively.
Additionally, mouth breathing can contribute to drooling during sleep. Drooling is often associated with the sleep position, as sleeping on your side or stomach can increase the likelihood of drooling due to gravity pulling the saliva downward. Mouth breathing can exacerbate this issue by providing a direct pathway for the saliva to escape. Therefore, addressing mouth breathing can help reduce drooling while sleeping.
If you are concerned about excessive drooling during sleep, it is recommended to consult a healthcare professional. They can evaluate your specific situation and provide personalized advice or treatment options, such as speech therapy or, in severe cases, surgery to reduce saliva production or improve saliva control.
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Health conditions
Drooling in your sleep is usually not a cause for concern. However, in some cases, it can be a symptom of an underlying health condition.
Neurological Conditions
Neurological conditions are a common cause of drooling. These conditions can lead to difficulty swallowing and excessive saliva production. Examples of neurological conditions that can cause drooling include:
- Stroke
- Cerebral palsy
- Parkinson's disease
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Bell's palsy
- Guillain-Barré syndrome
- Traumatic brain injuries
Infections and Allergies
Infections and allergies can also lead to increased saliva production, which can result in drooling during sleep. Upper respiratory infections, seasonal allergies, and sinus infections can all cause excess saliva production. Additionally, allergies can lead to a blocked nose, forcing you to breathe through your mouth, which can trigger saliva production.
Sleep Conditions
Certain sleep conditions can also contribute to drooling. Sleep apnea, for example, is often linked to drooling. Obstructive sleep apnea can cause breathing difficulties, leading to mouth breathing and increased saliva production.
Medications
Some medications can cause hypersalivation as a side effect, leading to excess drooling during sleep. These medications include:
- Antipsychotic drugs, such as clozapine
- Benzodiazepines, such as Xanax or Valium
- Direct muscarinic agonists
- Scopolamine
- Glycopyrrolate
- Atropine sulfate
Other Conditions
Other health conditions that can cause drooling include:
- GERD (chronic acid reflux)
- Swollen adenoids
- Pesticide poisoning
- Insect or snake bites
- Pregnancy side effects, such as acid reflux or nausea
- Bruxism (teeth grinding)
- Cavities or mouth infections
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Medication side effects
Drooling during sleep is a common occurrence and is usually nothing to worry about. However, excessive drooling can be caused by certain factors, one of them being the side effects of certain medications.
Certain medications can lead to excessive drooling, also known as sialorrhea or hypersalivation, during sleep. This is because some medications can increase saliva production or impair the ability to swallow. If you notice increased drooling after starting a new medication, speak to your doctor about your concerns. Do not stop taking your medication without consulting your doctor first. They may recommend alternative medications that do not list drooling as a side effect.
The following types of medications are known to cause excessive drooling:
- Antibiotics: Some antibiotics can increase saliva production, making it difficult to keep the saliva in your mouth, especially when sleeping.
- Antipsychotic drugs: These medications can affect the nervous system and stimulate the salivary glands, leading to increased saliva production and impaired swallowing.
- Alzheimer's medications: Drugs used to treat Alzheimer's disease can have similar effects on the nervous system and salivary glands, resulting in excessive drooling.
- Scopolamine: Also known as hyoscine, this medication intercepts nerve impulses before they reach the salivary glands, reducing saliva production. It is often delivered via a patch placed behind the ear and can be effective for up to 72 hours.
- Glycopyrrolate: This medication also decreases saliva production by blocking nerve impulses. However, it can have more severe side effects.
- Atropine sulfate: This drug belongs to the same class as glycopyrrolate and works by reducing excess saliva production.
If you are experiencing bothersome drooling during sleep and suspect that it may be related to your medication, consult your doctor or healthcare provider. They may adjust your dosage, prescribe an alternative medication, or recommend additional treatments or therapies to manage the drooling.
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Treatments for drooling
Lifestyle Changes
If you sleep on your side or stomach, switching to sleeping on your back may help to reduce drooling. Gravity will prevent saliva from escaping your mouth by keeping it in or making it travel to your throat. You can use a wedge pillow to help you stay in this position all night.
If you have allergies, treating them could help you breathe more through your nose, reducing drooling.
Speech Therapy
Speech therapy can help improve jaw stability and tongue strength and mobility, helping you close your lips fully.
Medication
Medications such as scopolamine, glycopyrrolate, and atropine sulfate can be given to reduce excess saliva.
Botox Injections
Botulinum toxin (Botox) injections have been used to treat drooling in people with neurological disorders. A doctor injects Botox into the salivary glands, usually with the assistance of ultrasound imaging. The Botox paralyzes the muscles in the area, preventing the salivary glands from functioning. The effects of an injection typically last for about 6 months and can be repeated.
Surgery
If other treatments have not worked, surgery may be recommended. Surgical methods include removing the sublingual or submandibular salivary glands, altering salivary gland ducts, and reducing nerve connections to salivary glands.
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Frequently asked questions
Drooling in your sleep is common and not usually a cause for concern. It can be caused by a variety of factors, such as producing too much saliva, open-mouth breathing, difficulty swallowing, or your sleeping position.
There are several ways to reduce drooling in your sleep. These include changing your sleeping position, staying hydrated, treating allergies, or using a mandibular device. Sleeping on your back can help as gravity will prevent saliva from escaping your mouth.
Drooling in your sleep is usually not a symptom of an underlying health condition. However, if you are drooling excessively, frequently, or it is interfering with your quality of life, you should consult a healthcare professional. Drooling can sometimes be a symptom of medical or neurological conditions, such as Parkinson's disease or cerebral palsy.
