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Drooling is a typical phenomenon that is very common during sleep. Although the latter is said to be normal, it is more related to sleeping posture and mouth-breathing.
In some rare cases, though, it can indicate other underlying conditions like digestive disorders, neurological disorders, and sleep apnea. Mostly, the drooling out of the mouth during sleep does not need any kind of treatment and is said to be natural.
In this blog post, we’ll explain what drooling during sleep is, why it is a common but often embarrassing issue, when occasional drooling is normal versus when frequent drooling may indicate underlying causes, and tips on how to prevent drooling in sleep – including when to seek medical help.
Causes of Drooling While Sleeping
This section explores the common reasons behind drooling during sleep. Understanding these causes can help you manage or reduce nighttime drooling.
Sleeping Position
One of the reasons can be your sleeping position. Because when you sleep on your back, the gravity generally causes any excess saliva to stay in the mouth or travel to their throat.
Inside and stomach sleepers,on the other hand, because of gravity, saliva flows down toward the pillow, resulting in drooling.
Nasal Congestion
If, because of a cold or infection, you’ve nasal congestion, then you might find that you’re drooling more than usual. When you’re having blocked sinus passages or narrower sinuses or regularly inflamed than other people, you might be drooling all the time.
Nasal congestion often forces mouth breathing at night, allowing saliva to escape more easily.
Acid Reflux or GERD
When stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, the tube connects the mouth and stomach, the gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs. This backflow of acid can be irritating and damage the tissues of the mouth, teeth, and esophagus.
As a result, people with GERD may experience hypersalivation and mouth irritation, which leads to increased drooling while sleeping.
GERD’s also can cause difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), in which it feels like food is also stuck in the throat, and the common side effect is excessive drooling. The other symptoms of GERD include nausea, chronic cough, and a sour taste in the mouth.
Medications
Drooling can be caused as a side effect of certain medications. For example, antipsychotic medications, used to treat conditions such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, can cause excessive drooling.
Other medications like antidepressants and antihistamines can cause drooling as well.
Neurological Conditions
Conditions including strokes, ALS, MS, parkinson’s or cerebral palsy can make a person more likely to drool.
Dental or Jaw Issues
Misaligned teeth or bite problems can sometimes make it harder to keep your mouth closed, leading to drooling.
Is Drooling Normal While Sleeping?
It’s completely normal for most people to drool and there’s nothing to worry about. It usually happens occasionally when you are very tired, sleeping deeply, or congested.
However, if drooling is excessive, frequent, or embarrassing, it may be linked to a medical condition.
Is Drooling in Your Sleep a Sign of Diabetes?
It’s not a common sign of diabetes to drool in your sleep. Usually, it happens when you sleep in a certain position or have sinus issues, acid reflux or allergies.
However, if you notice any other symptoms like frequent urination, tiredness or extreme thirst, it’s best to get your blood sugar checked.
How to Stop Drooling at Night
Drooling while sleeping is quite common and linked with your sleep position, oral health issues or breathing habits. On the other hand occasional drooling isn’t harmful , frequent leakage of saliva can be disruptive and uncomfortable.
Here’s good news for you that small and consistent changes can reduce night time drooling. In this section, we’ll share practical ways to manage it effectively and tips on how to stop slobbering at night.
Change Your Sleeping Position
If you’re wondering how to stop saliva while sleeping then, sleeping on your stomach helps keep the saliva from pooling and leaking out of your mouth. Sleeping on the stomach or side encourages gravity to pull saliva outward.
Using a body pillow or supportive pillows can help you with maintaining a back sleeping position throughout the night.
Treat Nasal Congestion
Nasal congestion from allergies, colds, or sinus problems often forces mouth breathing, which increases drooling.
Managing congestion with saline sprays, allergy treatments, or a humidifier can reduce the need to breathe through your mouth while sleeping and improve nasal airflow.
Stay Hydrated
The process of dehydration may slow the saliva, which is not easily swallowed at the time of sleeping. The adequate consumption of water during the day contributes to the normal saliva flow and consistency.
Do not take too much caffeine or alcohol before bedtime because they will cause dehydration.
Improve Oral Health
Oral hygiene is significant in the management of drooling. Brushing and flossing should be regularly practiced to curb unnecessary saliva triggers such as sore and infected gums.
Regular dental checkups may also be used to detect problems with jaw alignment or bite which might lead to mouth opening during sleep.
Medical Treatment
If lifestyle changes don’t help, medical advice may be necessary. A healthcare professional can evaluate neurological, sleep-related, or medication-related causes.
Some people explore wellness approaches that affect relaxation and saliva production; understanding topics like how does cbd work can provide general insight, but professional guidance is essential.
Use Special Devices
Anti-snoring devices or chin straps can help keep the mouth closed during sleep. By encouraging nasal breathing and jaw support, these tools may reduce drooling and improve overall sleep quality.
Conclusion
Sleep drooling is normally a result of factors like mouth breathing, sleeping position, acid reflux, sinus problems, or tooth and nervous system problems.
Saliva leakage is significantly reduced when small lifestyle changes, including the modification to sleep position, improvement of nasal airflow, hydration and oral health are promoted.
A consultation with a medical expert can be recommended in the case of severe or chronic cases in order to exclude the existence of underlying medical factors.
Drooling may occur occasionally, but it is necessary to understand the reasons and take proactive actions, so that, not only can you restrict the amount of saliva discharged at night, but also can sleep with ease without experiencing any issue.
