Off The Record
What Is The Cause Of My Nightly Drooling And When Should I Start Worrying?
There are several reasons why you can be drooling while you sleep. The muscles in your face and body generally relax as you sleep. Your mouth may expand, allowing too much saliva to escape. Whether or not you drool when you sleep depends on your sleeping position.
Additional causes of excessive drooling, also known as sialorrhea or hypersalivation, include pregnancy, neurological disorders, sleep apnea, nasal congestion, some medicines, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Sleep Position
During sleep, particularly REM sleep, the body’s muscles relax. You might be sleeping with your mouth hanging open. Drool may be more likely to flow from the sides of your mouth while you sleep if you sleep on your stomach or side.
Changing your sleeping posture and resting on your back could help if your drool is caused by the way you sleep.
Is It Normal to Drool in My Sleep?
Drooling in your sleep is often totally normal. However, if it happens suddenly and often or is excessive, it may signal a health condition.
Keep in mind that saliva production continues while you sleep to help protect the hard and soft tissues within your mouth and throat from acids and germs. [1]
Medication
Sedatives, antipsychotic medications, some antibiotics, some Alzheimer’s disease medications, and some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can all cause drooling as a side effect. [2]
Talk to your doctor if you are worried about drooling as a side effect of a drug you are taking, but don’t stop taking it.
Nasal Congestion
Your inability to breathe through your nose is one of the main causes of your mouth opening as you sleep. You can start breathing through your mouth if you’re congested due to allergies or a cold. You might slobber on your pillow if this happens while you’re asleep.
Breathing easier through your nose and avoiding drool can be achieved by treating allergies with medication or by taking precautions to keep allergens out of your home. Try using a humidifier or taking a decongestant if you have a cold.
Deviated Septum
Overnight drooling may also be caused by a deviated nasal septum. The two sides of your nose are divided by a thin wall known as the septum. An irregular or off-center septum may partially obstruct airflow on the narrower side. You might snore through your mouth as a result, which could make you drool as you sleep.
Drooling as you sleep might be lessened by treating your deviated septum with medicine or surgery known as a septoplasty.
Sleep Apnea
Mouth breathing at night and excessive saliva are symptoms of sleep apnea, a disease in which your breathing pauses while you sleep. [3]. Other signs of sleep apnea, besides drooling while you sleep, include: [4]
- Loud snoring
- Sounds of choking
- Feeling tired during the day
Sleep apnea is a dangerous illness. It’s critical to contact your healthcare practitioner immediately if you think you might have it. Treatment options for sleep apnea may involve surgery, breathing aids, and lifestyle modifications.
Infection
An infection or cavity in your teeth could be the cause of your excessive salivation and gum or mouth pain. [5]. The body may attempt to combat a mouth infection by producing extra saliva. Visit your dentist for a comprehensive examination and cleaning.
Drooling may also be caused by an infection of the epiglottis, the cartilage covering your windpipe. A fever and sore throat are the initial symptoms of epiglottitis, which can develop into breathing and swallowing difficulties. Please consult a doctor promptly if you experience any conditions affecting your ability to breathe, as this can be life-threatening.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Another issue that may be linked to drooling while you sleep is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is characterized by recurrent acid reflux. [6]. Dysphagia, or trouble swallowing, is another GERD symptom in addition to heartburn. This may result in excessive salivation and drooling, as well as a choking sensation or the sensation that food is lodged in your throat. [7].
Neurological Conditions
A condition known as sialorrhea occurs when some persons generate excessive amounts of saliva. There are two possible causes of sialorrhea:
- Brain damage
- Stroke, which stops the brain’s blood supply
- Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative illness that affects movement.
- Movement and balance are affected by a set of diseases known as cerebral palsy.
- The progressive disorder known as Huntington’s disease results in the death of brain neurons.
- Bell’s palsy is a neurological disorder that results in facial paralysis on one side.
- The degenerative nerve illness known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- A lack of vitamin B12 can occasionally result in neurological issues that induce drooling. [8]
It may be more difficult to swallow in these circumstances. You might drool both throughout the day and while you sleep if you have trouble swallowing.
In the event that you have a neurological issue, drooling can be controlled using medications such as Botox injections, prescription oral pills, and prescription patches. [9].
Teeth Grinding
Drooling may be a symptom of nocturnal bruxism, which is the grinding of teeth during the night. [10].
Wearing a mandibular device (such as a night guard) to treat nocturnal bruxism may potentially cause excessive salivation.
Pregnancy
Early pregnancy is often characterized by increased salivation, or ptyalism gravidarum, which can cause drooling as you sleep. [11]. Other related symptoms consist of:
- Salivary gland enlargement
- Having trouble falling asleep
- Emotional and social distress
Summary
It’s normal to drool when you sleep, and it might not indicate a medical issue. It may occur as a result of inhaling via your mouth rather than your nose. Breathing via your mouth can be caused by congestion, your nasal structure, and sleep apnea.
Saliva production can exceed swallowing capacity. This type of overproduction may be brought on by medications or early pregnancy. Additionally, some medical disorders make swallowing more difficult, which can result in drooling all day.
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