The next time you wake up from a good dream and discover saliva marks on your pillows, you most likely had a relaxing sleep. Much like everything else, drool is affected by gravity and the way and manner that we sleep can cause or prevent excessive saliva build up. Whenever we sleep face down on our pillows, chances are our facial muscles will contort in our sleep and result in saliva leaving marks.
In order to prevent drool from travelling from your salivary glands to your freshly washed pillows and sheets, opt for a sleeping position that includes lying on your back or the like. However, many people find that sleeping on your stomach or while cuddling a pillow is better than lying on your back and that a trade-off between comfort and a saliva-painted pillow is worth it. Drooling while sleeping in itself is not a substantial problem but it can be a precursor or symptom of a more serious medical condition that should be given consideration.
One of the sleep disorders related to a huge production of saliva is Obstructive Sleep Apnea which manifests through the sufferer having trouble swallowing and even breathing while asleep.
This often leads to snoring and can be indicative of other health problems. Another way to battle sleep apnea and drooling while sleeping is through the use of continuous positive airway pressure or CPAP therapy. It works by introducing pressure in airways such as the throat to allow for easier breathing.
While it may be treated with doses of botulinum toxin, excessive drooling remains a complication for these individuals. More of a byproduct of a neurological problem than a symptom, drooling while sleeping remains a worrying condition and if you have family history related with these disorders, it is better to address it as soon as you can.
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Whenever possible, we strive to have our articles fact-checked by our independent review board. We also do not tolerate plagiarism or ill intent from our contributors. Our writers are sleep coaches certified by the Spencer Institute , which has been training coaches since Becoming a certified sleep coach means that our writers are well-versed in various sleep science matters, taking us beyond being just a group of mattress reviewers. Sleep Health Fact Checked. Read more. The Common Causes of Drooling When Sleeping Hypersalivation, or excessive drooling, is a medical condition called sialorrhea.
Sleeping Position While side and stomach sleeping may be the two most popular sleeping positions, they are also the most likely cause of drooling when you sleep.
There are three different types of sleep apnea : Obstructive sleep apnea: When your airway becomes blocked or partially blocked Central sleep apnea: When your brain fails to tell your body to breathe Complex sleep apnea: A combination of obstructive and central sleep apnea. Dehydration Foul odor Decreased self-esteem Chapping, irritation, and a breakdown of the skin around the mouth Pneumonia caused by inhaling excessive saliva that has pooled in the back of the throat. Find more articles by Andrea.
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.
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It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. The Sleep Foundation editorial team is dedicated to providing content that meets the highest standards for accuracy and objectivity. Our editors and medical experts rigorously evaluate every article and guide to ensure the information is factual, up-to-date, and free of bias. 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.
Sign up below for your free gift. Your privacy is important to us. The positions in which you rest could make you more prone to excessive drooling. Sleeping on your stomach and snoozing on your side are two postures that could be contributing to your condition. So sleeping on your back in bed is a quick way to resolve the issue. When the nasal passageways are congested, people are more likely to breathe through their mouths.
Open mouths tend to lead to more drool finding its way onto your pillow because of the increased amount of air passing through, thus stimulating saliva, facilitating movement, and forcing it out of your mouth. Need more info? Learn how to sleep with a cold here. GERD or gastrointestinal reflux disorder is also commonly known as chronic acid reflux. As a result, swallowing can be difficult because the patients report that it feels like they have a lump in their throat.
The body responds to the irritation in the esophagus by producing even more saliva to try to flush out the irritant, resulting in drool. Some medications cause excessive saliva production. The most common instances are antipsychotic medications, particularly Clozapine.
The theory behind this phenomenon is that the drug affects the function of the nervous system, producing extra saliva and prohibiting the muscles in the mouth from holding the liquid in or swallowing it down. These diseases can prevent muscles from functioning correctly, prohibiting the mouth from working as it should, thus allowing liquid to escape. However, the issue could be something as benign as a sore throat that makes swallowing uncomfortable.
Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes someone to stop breathing several times throughout the night. One of the signs of sleep apnea is excessive drooling. An infection, especially in the sinuses, could also cause excessive drool; this is because infections tend to produce extra saliva in the mouth as the body tries to flush out the foreign invaders attacking the immune system.
In turn, if there are blocked nasal cavities, the body resorts to mouth-breathing, which allows a free flow of saliva. Allergies can also be an issue. For example, blocked sinuses due to allergies can lead to unwanted drainage in the form of nighttime drool.
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