Off The Record
If You Drool While Sleeping, Check For These 6 Alarming Signs
Saliva that exits your mouth, usually while you’re sleeping, is called drool. Although it can also be a sign of a medical illness, it is brought on by loosened swallowing reflexes.
Hypersalivation, also known as sialorrhea, is excessive drooling. Following a medical incident such as a stroke, cerebral palsy, or multiple sclerosis (MS), you may find yourself drooling more. Continue reading to learn more about why you drool and how to stop.
What causes this?
Sleep position
Gravity is the most common reason of drooling while you sleep, and it’s so simple you might not have considered it. Drool frequently collects in your mouth as a result of the way you sleep. Drooling during sleep is more common in people who sleep on their side or stomach. When your lips open to breathe, the accumulated drool may start to fall out, especially if you have narrow sinus passages or a tendency to breathe through your mouth.
Blocked sinuses
You may find yourself drooling more than normal if you have nasal congestion brought on by an illness or cold. You may find yourself drooling constantly if you have narrower sinuses than most people or frequently irritated or obstructed sinus passages. When your sinuses are blocked, you are more likely to breathe via your mouth as you sleep, which causes more saliva to flow out of your mouth.
GERD
A digestive ailment known as gastro intestinal reflex disorder (GERD) causes the contents of your stomach to reflux back into your esophagus, harming the lining of your esophagus. GERD can result in a lump in your throat or dysphagia, which is trouble swallowing. For some, this sensation results in excessive drooling. If you have GERD, use these suggestions to have better sleep.
Medication side effects
Certain drugs may increase your propensity to drool. It has been demonstrated that antipsychotic drugs, particularly clozapine, and Alzheimer’s disease therapies can result in excessive drooling. Additionally, some antibiotics can cause sialorrhea.
Swallowing disorders
Any condition that makes swallowing difficult is referred to as dysphagia. If you are drooling too much, it could be a warning sign. Muscular dystrophy, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and even some types of cancer can cause dysphagia, which makes it difficult to swallow your spit.
Sleep apnea
Your body stops breathing during the night when you have sleep apnea, which disrupts your sleep. One risk factor for sleep apnea is drool. A accurate diagnosis of sleep apnea is necessary since it can be quite harmful. Ask yourself whether you have any of the following additional symptoms of sleep apnea if you drool a lot at night:
- loud snoring
- waking up feeling startled or out of breath during the night
- attention problems or difficulty focusing during the day
- drowsiness during waking hours
- a sore throat or dry mouth upon waking
If, in addition to drooling, you experience one or more of these symptoms, consult a physician.
Treatment options
1. Sleep position
Changing your sleeping position should be your initial attempt. You can better regulate the flow of your saliva by lying on your back, preventing it from soaking your pillow or getting on your face. If you’re having problems sleeping on your back, it could be because changing positions makes it more difficult for you to breathe. When you try to sleep on your back, pay attention to if you get acid reflux or feel “stuffy.” The secret to determining whether there is a more serious issue may lie in simply observing how you feel as you go off to sleep.
2. Home remedies
Maintaining a healthy salivary balance in your mouth is crucial. According to the American Dental Association, saliva is essential for defending your body against infection.
You might want to bite into a lemon wedge if you’re trying to stop drooling. Citrus is said to thin out saliva, reducing the likelihood of it pooling. Additionally, since staying hydrated thins out your saliva, you might want to think about drinking extra water.
3. Mandibular device
An oral appliance is called a mandibular device. It’s something you place in your mouth, similar to a mouthguard, to improve your quality of sleep and reduce snoring and drool. You can buy these gadgets online or from some specialty surgical supply retailers.
4. CPAP machine
You must get therapy if the drooling is a sign of sleep apnea. A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine is the most commonly prescribed treatment for sleep apnea. In addition to helping you sleep deeper, a CPAP machine will ensure that you are breathing correctly and are positioned safely at night. You might drool when using your CPAP machine; find out how to prevent this by talking to a sleep apnea treatment specialist.
5. Botox injections
Some decide to deal with hypersalivation in a combative manner. Injecting Botox into the salivary glands surrounding your mouth is one method of treatment. By doing this, the glands are prevented from overproducing saliva. The Botox will ultimately wear off and your glands will work normally again, so this therapy is not permanent.
6. Surgery
In certain situations, a doctor may advise removing your saliva glands. Individuals who require the removal of their saliva glands typically have neurological conditions that go far beyond drooling while they sleep. Although hypersalivation can usually be controlled with these techniques, patients who are thinking about having surgery for this symptom are encouraged to try other therapies first.
The takeaway
There are easy ways to try to break the habit of drooling in your sleep, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of. Bring up the matter with your doctor if you’re worried about the amount of saliva you produce while you sleep or if you have any cause to think that it could indicate another medical condition. Something significant may be going on if you wake up frequently during the night, never feel fully rested, and have regular headaches and other sleep issues.
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