Evie Summers
Drooling while sleeping, or nocturnal sialorrhea, is a common occurrence that can cause feelings of embarrassment. While it is usually not a cause for concern, excessive drooling may indicate an underlying health issue. Nocturnal sialorrhea can be caused by various factors, including sleep position, allergies, infections, acid reflux, and certain medications. Changing sleep positions, treating allergies, and addressing swallowing difficulties are recommended strategies to reduce drooling. Consulting a healthcare professional is advised for continuous or severe drooling to rule out any potential medical conditions and explore suitable treatment options.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Is it normal? | Yes, in most cases. |
| Is it harmful? | No, in most cases. |
| Causes | Sleeping position, producing too much saliva, open-mouth breathing, difficulty swallowing, allergies, infections, medication side effects, neurological disorders, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), sleep apnea, teeth grinding, and other medical conditions. |
| Treatments | Changing sleep positions, speech therapy, medication, surgery, mandibular devices, mouth guards, treating allergies, staying hydrated, and using a wedge pillow. |
| Concerns | Bad breath, chapped lips, dry skin around the lips, dehydration, embarrassment, angular cheilitis, and pneumonia. |
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What You'll Learn
Sleeping position
Slobbering or drooling while sleeping is usually caused by sleeping on your side or stomach. This is because gravity pulls saliva down towards the pillow, and if you sleep with your mouth open, saliva is more likely to escape.
If you sleep on your back, gravity generally keeps any excess saliva in your mouth or allows it to travel to your throat. Sleeping on your back is therefore the best way to reduce the chances of drooling during sleep. If you sleep on your side or stomach, you may have to train yourself to sleep on your back. You can also try sleeping on a wedge pillow, which will slightly elevate your head, allowing gravity to force excess saliva down towards your throat.
If you are having trouble staying on your back throughout the night, place additional pillows along the sides of your body to help you stay in position. Side sleepers typically use a much thicker pillow than back sleepers, while stomach sleepers use a much thinner pillow or no pillow at all.
Changing your sleep position can also help with other issues that cause drooling, such as breathing with your mouth open or difficulty swallowing.
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Allergies
If you are experiencing allergies, treating them can help reduce drooling. Allergy treatments can open up your sinuses and enable you to breathe more through your nose, reducing the likelihood of drooling. Allergy remedies such as air purifiers, hypoallergenic bed sheets, and minimizing pet dander contact can help clear allergy symptoms. Over-the-counter antihistamines like Claritin or Zyrtec can also help reduce congestion and make it easier to breathe through your nose.
In addition to allergies, other factors that can contribute to drooling while sleeping include sleeping position, age, congestion due to sickness, deep sleep, gastric or acid reflux, and sleep apnea. Changing your sleeping position, staying hydrated, and addressing any underlying medical conditions can also help reduce drooling.
If drooling is severe or continuous, it is recommended to consult a healthcare professional for personalized advice and treatment options.
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Sleep apnea
Drooling during sleep is a normal occurrence for many people and can be caused by various factors, including excess saliva production, sleeping position, underlying health conditions, and certain medications. While drooling during sleep is usually not a cause for concern, if it is accompanied by choking or gasping for air, it may indicate a more serious condition such as sleep apnea.
There are several treatment options available for sleep apnea, depending on the severity of the condition. Lifestyle changes, such as weight loss, quitting smoking, and avoiding alcohol and sedatives before bed, can help improve sleep apnea symptoms. In some cases, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy may be recommended, which involves wearing a mask over the nose and mouth during sleep to provide a steady stream of pressurised air to keep the airways open. Oral appliances or surgery may also be considered in more severe cases to help improve airflow during sleep.
While drooling can be a symptom of sleep apnea, it is important to note that there are also other potential causes. Allergies, infections, and acid reflux can all contribute to drooling during sleep. Additionally, certain medications can increase saliva production and lead to drooling. Neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease and cerebral palsy, can also cause excessive drooling. Therefore, it is important to consult a healthcare professional to determine the underlying cause of drooling and receive appropriate treatment.
In summary, while drooling during sleep is common and usually harmless, it can sometimes be a symptom of sleep apnea or other medical conditions. If you experience excessive drooling or other concerning symptoms, it is important to seek medical advice to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment.
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Excess saliva production
There are several factors that can contribute to excess saliva production during sleep. One factor is sleeping position. Sleeping on your side or stomach increases the likelihood of drooling compared to sleeping on your back, as gravity pulls saliva towards the pillow. Sleeping with an open mouth further increases the chances of drooling, as the saliva can more easily escape. Changing your sleep position and using a wedge pillow to elevate your head can help to reduce drooling by allowing gravity to pull the saliva down toward your throat.
Another factor that can contribute to excess saliva production is mouth breathing. Conditions such as colds, flu, strep throat, and allergies can cause inflamed sinuses and blocked airways, making it more difficult to breathe through your nose and leading to increased mouth breathing. Treating allergies and using mouth tape to encourage nose breathing can help to reduce drooling.
In some cases, excess saliva production during sleep may be a symptom of an underlying medical condition. These conditions can include sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), teeth grinding, infections, or certain medications. If you are experiencing excessive drooling or other concerning symptoms, it is important to consult a healthcare professional for evaluation and guidance.
While occasional drooling during sleep is common, excessive and frequent drooling may signal a problem. There are a variety of treatment options available, including lifestyle changes, speech therapy, medication, and surgery. Changing your sleep position, staying hydrated, and treating allergies can also help to reduce drooling.
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Treatments for drooling
While drooling during sleep is normal and harmless, there are several treatments available for those who feel embarrassed or are concerned about the potential health implications. Here are some ways to manage and treat drooling:
Change Your Sleep Position
Changing your sleep position can significantly reduce drooling. Sleeping on your back makes it easier for excess saliva to travel down your throat or stay in your mouth, reducing the chances of it escaping onto your pillow. If you sleep on your side or stomach, consider switching to your back. This may require some adjustment, as sleep positions are often habits formed over a lifetime. To help you stay on your back, you can place additional pillows along the sides of your body.
Use a Wedge Pillow
A wedge pillow slightly elevates your head, allowing gravity to pull excess saliva down your throat instead of pooling in your mouth. This can be an alternative to changing your sleep position.
Treat Allergies or Infections
Allergies and infections can block your airways, causing you to breathe through your mouth and drool more than usual. Treating allergies or infections can help open up your sinuses, enabling you to breathe through your nose and reducing drooling. Consult an allergy specialist or your healthcare provider for appropriate treatment.
Use Mouth Tape
If you sleep with your mouth open, you can take measures to breathe through your nose and keep your mouth closed by using mouth tape. This can help reduce drooling.
Medication
In some cases, medication may be recommended to reduce excess saliva. Drugs such as scopolamine, glycopyrrolate, and atropine sulfate can be administered in the form of a patch placed behind the ear. These medications continuously release the drug for up to 72 hours. However, side effects may occur. Botulinum toxin (Botox) injections are another option, as they reduce the flow of saliva from the salivary glands. These injections are considered safe and effective, with few side effects.
Surgery
In severe cases of drooling where other treatments have not worked, surgery may be recommended. Surgical methods can include removing the sublingual or submandibular salivary glands or injecting botulinum toxin (Botox) into the salivary glands to prevent them from producing saliva.
It is important to consult a healthcare professional if you are concerned about excessive drooling, especially if it is continuous or frequent, as it may signal an underlying condition. They can advise you on the best treatment options for your specific situation.
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Frequently asked questions
Slobbering or drooling while sleeping is completely normal and is caused by excess saliva production. Sleeping on your back makes it easier for the saliva to travel down your throat or stay in your mouth.
Drooling while sleeping can be caused by various reasons, such as producing too much saliva, open-mouth breathing, or difficulty swallowing. Sleeping position, allergies or infections, medication side effects, and other medical conditions are some of the other common causes of nighttime drooling.
Changing sleep positions and treating allergies can help manage drooling. Sleeping on your back may help minimise drooling. You can also try breathing through your nose and keeping your mouth closed while you sleep.
Drooling while sleeping is usually not a cause for concern. However, if you believe you drool excessively, it could be a sign of sleep apnea, teeth grinding, allergies, or another condition. Consult a healthcare professional about treatment if drooling is continuous or severe.
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