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Article Summary. Method 1. Sleep on your back. Side-sleepers are more prone to drooling during the night simply because gravity is causing the mouth to open and allowing drool to pool on your pillow. Try sleeping on your back and tucking yourself in so that you do not shift around during the night.
Prop your head up. If you can't sleep without laying on your side, trying propping yourself in a more vertical position to encourage your mouth to close and create a better air flow. Breathe through your nose, not your mouth.
The main reason that people drool is that their nasal sinuses are clogged. As a result, they end up breathing through their mouth and drooling in the process. Try applying sinus-clearing products like Vick's Vaporub and Tiger Balm directly under your nose to loosen clogged nostrils. Smell essential oils such as Eucalyptus before going to bed to clear sinuses and soothe yourself to sleep.
Take a hot, steamy shower before bed to allow the pure vapors to cleanse your sinuses. Treat sinus infections and allergies as soon as they surface. Untreated conditions can cause post nasal drip and excess saliva while you sleep.
Find out if any of your current medications cause excess saliva production. Excess saliva can be a symptom of many different medications. A look at throat ulcers, a condition that makes it hard to swallow and causes other problems.
Included is detail on diagnosis and home remedies. What is the cause of drooling? Medically reviewed by Elaine K. Luo, M. The best ways to stop drooling Common causes Complications Takeaway We include products we think are useful for our readers. The best ways to stop drooling. Share on Pinterest Certain sleeping positions may encourage drooling.
Share on Pinterest Botox injections in the salivary glands may help to prevent drooling. Common causes of drooling. Share on Pinterest Various neurological conditions may cause poor control over the muscles around the mouth, making it harder to prevent drooling. Complications from drooling. Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals.
Costs associated with obesity may account for 3. Related Coverage. What can cause frequent throat clearing? What conditions can affect the ear, nose, and throat?
If you think allergies or an infection may be behind your excessive drooling, start with a visit to your primary care provider. In the majority of cases, medication can treat the underlying cause of drooling. If the condition is persistent, you may need to see a physician who specializes in treating ear, nose, and throat ENT conditions. Sleeping on your side or stomach can create an easy escape route from your mouth.
Sleeping on your back may help curb drooling. A sleep disorder called sleep apnea can also be associated with drooling because your airway is either narrowed or blocked. This irregular breathing can lead to excess saliva production and drool. They can determine if you simply need to adjust your sleeping position, or if you will need further evaluation from an Ear, Nose and Throat ENT or sleep medicine specialist.
They may recommend a sleep study to determine if you have sleep apnea. If so, the condition is often managed successfully with continuous positive airway pressure CPAP. Sometimes, certain medications can increase the amount of saliva your body produces, especially if you take medications for:. The type of provider you see depends on the specific medication and why the medication was prescribed.
Be aware that these injections are not a permanent solution, and you will need to get more injections when the effects wear off after a few months. Mandibular devices are a type of appliance you wear in your mouth while you sleep. They are designed to help reduce drooling, snoring, and teeth grinding by keeping your lips closed and your tongue and teeth in the right place.
Speech therapists can teach you exercises that strengthen your tongue and jaw muscles, improving their stability. With speech therapy, you may be able to swallow better, better breathe with your mouth closed, and reduce drooling. People with neurological conditions may be prescribed medication to stop drooling.
These medications reduce drooling by blocking the nerve impulses to your salivary glands. However, they commonly produce side effects, such as an overly dry mouth. In severe cases of hypersalivation, your doctor may recommend surgery. A few types of surgery are used to treat drooling, including surgical removal of the salivary glands, alteration of salivary gland ducts, and reduction of nerve connections to salivary glands. Typically, surgery is reserved for people who also drool during waking hours, and even then it is considered a last resort, after all other options have been attempted and found not to work.
Drooling in your sleep is normal. But, if you are worried you are drooling too much, set up an appointment with your healthcare provider. They can assess whether your drooling could be a sign of an underlying health condition, and provide personalized advice on how to drool less during sleep.
Danielle writes in-depth articles about sleep solutions and holds a psychology degree from the University of British Columbia. She specializes in helping parents establish healthy sleep habits for children. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly.
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Updated September 2, Written by Danielle Pacheco. Medically Reviewed by Dr. Nilong Vyas. Is Drooling During Sleep Normal? Your Sleeping Position Your sleep position can affect how much drool you find on your pillow in the morning. Infections and Allergies 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.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Heartburn may be the most well-known symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD , but drooling and dysphagia , or difficulty swallowing, are also common symptoms. Obstructive Sleep Apnea Obstructive sleep apnea OSA is a sleep-related breathing disorder that causes temporary pauses in breathing while you sleep. Additional symptoms of OSA include: Snoring , gasping, or choking while asleep Waking up during the night Morning headaches Difficulty focusing during the day Daytime sleepiness If you notice any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor.
Bruxism Drooling commonly accompanies sleep bruxism , or teeth grinding during sleep. Underlying Medical Conditions Your nervous system stimulates your salivary glands, which may explain why impaired swallowing and excessive drooling are common with neurodegenerative disorders.
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