Drooling while sleeping, or nocturnal sialorrhea, is a common occurrence that affects many people. This involuntary loss of saliva from the mouth during the night is usually not a sign of a serious health problem, but it can be a source of discomfort and embarrassment upon waking. The phenomenon is a natural consequence of physiological changes that occur as the body rests. Understanding the underlying mechanisms and applying simple, practical home remedies can often effectively manage this issue.
Why Drooling Happens During Sleep
The primary cause of nocturnal drooling is the temporary loss of muscle control that happens during deep sleep cycles, specifically during the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) stage. During this period, the facial muscles, including those around the mouth and throat, relax significantly. This relaxation makes it easier for the mouth to fall slightly open, allowing saliva to escape.
Compounding this muscle relaxation is a decrease in the reflexive swallowing action that normally clears saliva from the mouth. While saliva production typically slows down at night, the accumulated fluid has nowhere to go if the swallowing reflex is suppressed. If an individual is sleeping on their side or stomach, gravity naturally pulls the pooled saliva out through the open mouth.
Increased saliva production or obstructed nasal passages can also trigger or worsen nighttime drooling. Conditions like a cold, seasonal allergies, or sinus congestion force a person to breathe through their mouth, making it nearly impossible to keep saliva contained. Furthermore, conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can stimulate the salivary glands to produce more saliva as a protective response to irritation in the esophagus.
Immediate Environmental and Positional Fixes
The most straightforward way to address nocturnal drooling is by modifying your sleeping position. Sleeping on your back allows gravity to work in your favor, keeping saliva in the throat where it can be naturally swallowed or drain internally. Side and stomach sleepers are significantly more likely to drool because the head is angled downward, creating an easy exit for saliva.
If changing your sleep habit proves difficult, simply elevating the head of your bed can help manage the issue. Propping the head up by a few inches, perhaps using a wedge pillow or by placing blocks under the bedposts, helps maintain a slight upward angle that reduces the gravitational pull toward the pillow. This slight elevation can also mitigate symptoms of acid reflux, which is a known trigger for excessive salivation.
Addressing any congestion that forces mouth breathing is another immediate and effective fix. Using a saline nasal spray, a humidifier, or an external nasal strip before bed can help clear nasal passages. When the airway is open, the mouth can remain closed during sleep, which physically prevents saliva from escaping.
Dietary and Muscle Tone Adjustments
Adjustments to your eating habits, particularly close to bedtime, can reduce the stimuli for excessive saliva production. Highly acidic or spicy foods can trigger the salivary glands, and eating them close to when you lie down increases the likelihood of drooling. These foods also increase the risk of acid reflux, which causes the body to produce more saliva in response to esophageal irritation.
It is helpful to avoid large meals or highly acidic beverages like citrus juices and sodas in the two to three hours leading up to sleep. This habit reduces the chance of stomach contents flowing back up and stimulating the protective saliva response. Focusing on good hydration throughout the day is also beneficial, as it helps maintain a balanced saliva consistency.
Improving the resting tone of the oral muscles can also be a long-term solution. Simple jaw and tongue exercises, sometimes referred to as oromotor exercises, can improve muscle coordination and strength. These exercises, practiced consciously during the day, may help ensure the mouth remains naturally closed and the tongue is properly positioned at night, which aids in reflexive swallowing.
When to Consult a Healthcare Professional
While occasional drooling is common, persistent, severe, or sudden-onset drooling may indicate an underlying medical issue that requires professional evaluation. If home remedies do not provide relief, or if the drooling is accompanied by other concerning symptoms, a medical consultation is appropriate. A doctor can determine if the issue is related to chronic conditions like severe sleep apnea, which often involves significant mouth breathing.
Certain prescription medications, including some antipsychotic drugs or those used to treat neurological disorders, can have excessive salivation as a known side effect. If drooling began shortly after starting a new medication, discussing alternatives or dosage adjustments with a healthcare provider is prudent. Persistent drooling can also be a sign of a neurological condition that affects muscle control, such as Parkinson’s disease, and should be investigated by a specialist.