Side or stomach sleepers are more likely to drool when they sleep. Especially if they tend to breathe through their mouths, or if they have narrow nasal passages, accumulated drool can start to ooze out of their lips when they open to breathe.
Blocked sinuses or nasal obstruction
If you have a stuffy nose due to a cold or infection, you may find that you're drooling more than usual. Regularly having swollen or blocked nasal passages, or narrower sinuses than other people, we may drool all the time.
Blocked sinuses make it more likely that we breathe through our mouths when sleeping, and "mouth breathing" causes more saliva to come out. Mucus can be the culprit, but things like nasal swelling or any type of blockage, such as a deviated septum, nasal polyp, or enlarged adenoids, can cause mouth breathing or make it worse.
GERD
Gastrointestinal reflex disorder (GERD) is a digestive condition in which stomach contents back up into the esophagus and damage the lining of the esophagus. GERD can cause dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) or make you feel like you have a lump in your throat. This sensation leads to excessive drooling in some people, as your body reacts to the irritation by producing a large amount of saliva.
Some people with GERD have heartburn, but this is not always the case. Other symptoms of the condition include pain or difficulty swallowing, or a feeling that food is stuck in the throat, belching, bad breath, chronic sore throat or sore throat, swollen gums, or a hoarse voice from the morning.
Drooling when sleeping due to allergies
Whether you're sensitive to tree pollen or dust mites, allergies are no joke to those who battle them. If allergies are intensifying, it is common to have excessive saliva and nasal congestion during the day, and particularly at night. We may also have a dry cough, shortness of breath, itchy or watery eyes.
When we go to sleep, nasal congestion tends to get worse due to increased blood flow to the nose and head. And when trying to fall asleep with a stuffy nose, it tends to breathe through its mouth, which makes it easier for the slime to escape.
Medication side effects
Some medications can make us more likely to drool. Antipsychotic drugs (especially clozapine) and medications used to treat Alzheimer's disease have been shown to cause excessive drooling. This happens as a consequence of making swallowing difficult. Some antibiotics can also cause excess saliva when sleeping.
Sleep apnea
When you have sleep apnea, your sleep is interrupted because your body occasionally stops breathing during the night. Drooling while sleeping can be a risk factor for sleep apnea. This can be very serious and should be properly diagnosed. If you drool a lot at night, ask yourself if you have any of the other signs of sleep apnea, such as loud snoring, waking up startled or out of breath at night, problems with attention or difficulty concentrating during the day, sore throat or dry mouth when waking up
It's important to see a doctor to find out if you have one or more of these symptoms in addition to drooling.
Solutions to stop drooling while sleeping
The first thing we should try is to change the sleeping position. By sleeping on your back, we will be able to better control the flow of saliva so that it does not end up on the face or soaking the pillow. If we have trouble sleeping on our backs, it may be because we find it more difficult to breathe when we are in a new position.
Pay attention if you feel "stuffed" or have acid reflux while trying to sleep on your back. Simply paying attention to how you feel as you fall asleep can be the key to discovering if there is a deeper problem.
Home remedies
It is important to maintain a healthy balance of saliva in the mouth. Saliva plays a vital role in protecting the body from infection.
If you're trying to drool less, you might try biting into a lemon wedge. Some people believe that citrus fruits can dilute saliva, making it less likely to build up. You can also consider drinking more water, as staying hydrated will dilute the saliva we produce.
If you suffer from allergies, sleep with your head elevated. It can also be a great idea to turn on a humidifier at night to open up your nasal passages and provide moisture inside your nose. You can even use a saline spray before bed to clean your nose.
mandibular device
A mandibular device is an oral appliance. It's something you put in your mouth, like a mouth guard, to help you sleep more comfortably and reduce drooling and snoring.
These devices are available for purchase online or at some specialty surgical supply stores. In addition they also work as protectors of bruxism. It is best to go to a specialist to evaluate your case and recommend the best splint.
CPAP machine
If drooling is an indication of sleep apnea, you should seek treatment. The most recommended treatment for sleep apnea is something called a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine.
A CPAP machine will not only help you sleep more soundly, it will also ensure that you are in a safe position and breathe properly at night. You can drool with the CPAP machine on without any problem. Talk to a sleep apnea treatment specialist to learn how you can prevent this from happening.
Botox injections
Some people choose to take an aggressive approach to extreme salivation. One of these treatments involves injecting Botox into the salivary glands that surround the mouth. This prevents the glands from producing excess saliva.
Unfortunately, this treatment is not permanent, as the Botox will wear off over time and the glands will become functional again. It will be necessary to analyze if it is a long-term economic option or if other types of longer-lasting treatments are required.
Surgery to stop drooling while sleeping
There are cases where a doctor recommends that the salivary glands be removed. People who need to have their salivary glands removed usually have underlying neurological problems that are much more serious than just drooling in their sleep.
These surgeries are usually successful in curbing excessive salivation, but people considering surgery for this symptom will be advised to try other treatments first.
