You must have felt saliva dripping from your mouth many times while sleeping. You may not have paid much attention to it, nor did you take it seriously. But is this normal? Experts believe that it is possible that saliva dripping from the mouth while sleeping can be a sign of some disease. The reason behind the drop of saliva from the mouth while sleeping can be due to weak or underdeveloped muscles of the mouth or too much saliva production in the mouth.
The glands that make saliva are called salivary glands. Six of these glands are located near the bottom of your mouth, cheeks, and front teeth. These glands usually make 2-4 pints of saliva a day. When these glands start making too much saliva, you may experience drooling while sleeping.
The problem of saliva falling from the mouth is usually seen in the two years of birth. By the time babies are 18 to 24 months old, they don’t have complete control over swallowing or the muscles of the mouth. In children, saliva can be seen coming out of the mouth even while sleeping.
It was about the children. But if older people are also having the same problem, then it can be neurological or other types of medical conditions like cerebral palsy.
Symptoms of excessive saliva falling from the mouth while sleeping –
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It is very important to make enough saliva in the mouth to swallow the food. But when the same amount of saliva starts coming out of the mouth uncontrollably, then it can also be a sign of problems. The problem of drooling mainly occurs while sleeping. The following can be its symptoms, which you need to take care of.
- Uncontrolled drooling at any age affects swallowing.
- Drooling is a common process in children up to the age of four. However, if older children and young people face this problem, then a doctor should be contacted.
- Loss of tongue control.
- Excretion of an excessive amount of saliva, which spoils the clothes.
If you see one or more of the above symptoms, it could be a sign of a serious illness. In such a situation you should consult a doctor.
Cause of drooling while sleeping –
Our body usually makes more than 1 liter of saliva in a day. The salivary glands make saliva, which we swallow and it re-circulates with the help of blood vessels. Some people have the habit of sleeping with their mouth open, due to which saliva comes out of the mouth. Actually, at the time of sleep, the body is in a state of rest, and in such a situation some people sleep with their mouth open, due to which saliva starts falling out of the mouth. Some experts also believe that the way you sleep can also cause saliva to leak from your mouth. If you sleep on your side, saliva comes out instead of going in. Know further than what can be the reasons for drooling while sleeping, as well as what diseases it indicates.
1- Age
The problem of falling saliva from the mouth is mainly seen in newborns. You can see it more during the age of three to six months. Since teeth begin to erupt in children during this time, it can be considered normal. Yes, young people and older people who are often facing such problems should contact the doctor.
2- Food & drink
Consuming acidic ingredients in food leads to the production of saliva in excess. This can lead to the problem of saliva falling from the mouth while sleeping.
3- Side effects of medicines
You may also experience drooling due to the side effects of some medicines. Antipsychotic medicines used to treat Alzheimer’s can also cause excessive drooling. Some antibiotics can also cause excessive salivation in the mouth.
4- Trouble swallowing anything
Difficulty swallowing is known as ‘dysphagia’. If you have a lot of complaints of drooling, then it is possible that it may be a sign of some disease. Parkinson’s, muscular dystrophy, and even several types of cancer can cause dysphagia. During this, you may have difficulty swallowing even sputum.
5- Sleep apnea
Drooling during the night may indicate sleep apnea (in which problems such as shortness of breath and frequent turning sides arise during sleep). Dripping saliva in sleep apnea is risky. If it is not treated on time it can turn into a serious problem. In addition to drooling during sleep apnea, symptoms such as loud snoring, sudden awakenings from a deep sleep, difficulty concentrating throughout the day, feeling lethargic when waking up, sore throat, or dry throat when waking up from sleep can be seen.
6- Tonsillitis
If you are having trouble swallowing because of a sore throat or tonsils, it could be a sign of a sore throat. A sore throat can be due to viral or bacterial causes. Due to this problem, red and white patches start appearing in the throat. Along with this, the person may also get a fever. Having tonsils makes it difficult to swallow. When saliva is not swallowed, it starts coming out of the mouth during sleep. However, you cannot say that you have tonsillitis just because of saliva coming out of your mouth. Consider its other symptoms as well. Contact a doctor if needed.
7- Respiratory infection
Sinus (small air-filled structures around the nose) can become inflamed due to a cold, allergies, or other nasal problems. If there is inflammation or infection in the sinus, it can cause blockage and discharge. This secretion can also come out of the mouth in the form of saliva.
What to do to prevent drooling?
This problem of drooling can be prevented by making some changes in life. If you are facing the problem of saliva falling from your mouth while sleeping, then you can get benefits by using the following measures.
1- Change in sleeping pattern
The problem of drooling comes more while sleeping. To get rid of this problem, you should start sleeping on your back, it can get rid of this problem to a great extent. If you keep changing the way you sleep several times in the night and you are constantly having trouble sleeping on your back, then put a pillow under your head, so that your mouth is slightly elevated.
Doctors often recommend methods to make saliva thinner for people troubled by drooling. There are many home remedies that can be helpful for you in this direction. For example, drink a lot of water. If your body is well hydrated, the body will not need to produce as much saliva to keep your mouth fluid.
3- Allergy and sinus problems treatment
If the problem of excessive salivation is due to reasons like allergies and sinus, then treat it. Although these are problems that can be cured on their own, if you still feel, then you can also take some medicines on the advice of the doctor for this.
Reasons to drooling while sleeping –
If a child under the age of four has a problem with drooling while sleeping, doctors usually do not suggest any treatment for it. Treatment is needed only when it takes a serious form. Dripping of saliva seriously means if there is continuous dripping of saliva through the lips or due to this problem of drooling, you start feeling social scolding. Excessive drooling can lead to the accumulation of saliva in the lungs, which can lead to pneumonia.
Talking about the treatment of this disease, its treatment is also different according to the problem of every person. Usually, the doctor evaluates the problem so that he can find out the cause and provide you with treatment on that basis. Usually, this disease can be cured with medicine and some oral therapy. However, in more severe cases, doctors may suggest treatment options such as surgery and radiotherapy.
1- Therapy
Many times the problem of drooling can be corrected through therapy. A speech and occupational therapist can teach you techniques that can help ease the discomfort of closing your lips and swallowing anything. Therapists can help you settle the muscles and control salivation. Depending on your condition, the doctor may also advise you to consult a dietician, so that you can adjust the number of acidic foods in your diet.
2- Treatment with the help of equipment
The problem of drooling can also be corrected through some special devices. After looking at your condition and the cause of the disease, the doctor may insert a dental device into the mouth. This device helps to keep the lips closed while swallowing.
Once the device is placed in the mouth, it helps to close the lips, as well as to improve the position of the tongue and the process of swallowing. If you are having some problem with swallowing then this device can prove to be very effective.
3- Medicines
Some medicines help reduce the production of saliva in the mouth. It can be of many types. Some medicines come in the form of patches, which have to be applied inside the mouth. This patch delivers the medicine slowly into the mouth in a fixed amount throughout the day. The duration of each patch is approximately 72 hours. Some such drugs are also given in the form of injections and pills. These medicines reduce the production of saliva, but as a result, many times people complain of dry mouth. Some medicines are given as drops.
Keep in mind, which medicine is to be given to whom and in what form, the doctor decides on the basis of your condition. Therefore, do not take any medicine by looking from your mind or from the internet, it can also have side effects.
4- Botox injections
Botox injections are given to strengthen and tighten the facial muscles. With this, the problem of drooling can be reduced to a great extent.
5- Surgical treatment
For the treatment of drooling, sometimes the doctor may also recommend surgery as per the need. Through surgery, the problems with the salivary ducts are corrected, they are reconnected. Sometimes the salivary glands have to be removed completely.
6- Conclusion
If you are facing the problem of saliva falling from your mouth while sleeping, then there is nothing to be ashamed of. You can take simple steps to get rid of this problem. If you are concerned about this, contact your doctor for testing and treatment, If you often break your sleep while sleeping, never feel rested, and are having frequent headaches and other sleep problems, then definitely tell all these problems to the doctor. If careless, these small problems can turn into big diseases.
