Drool

Drooling occurs when there is excess saliva coming out of a person’s mouth. This embarrassing act is no respecter of anybody and can happen to just anyone.

However, if drooling occurs in excess and on a regular basis, it could be a sign of developing an illness or something is wrong in the body, that is, a significant malfunction.

Reasons why you drool

When you sleep, the muscles on your face, your swallowing reflexes, and your entire body are totally relaxed. The accumulation of saliva in the mouth, while we sleep, may slowly start to drip and because the muscles on the face are relaxed, there might be a slight opening of the mouth.

You may wake up to find your pillow moist and feel some drool on your cheek leading from your mouth.

So to save yourself some embarrassing situations, you need to understand that constant drooling or hypersalivation may be clear signs of nasal congestion or neurological disease.

Excessive drooling may also occur in individuals who have had issues with their health, -stroke, paralysis, Alzheimer’s-, but you need to take some steps to reduce drooling. How? Read on.

Clearing sinuses

If it happens that the nose is blocked, there is a possibility that you may experience drooling since the next best place to breathe from is through the mouth.

By cleaning nasal sinuses, you get to breathe better and through your nose instead of your mouth, allowing you wake to a clean and dry pillow. Some ways to help unclog your nasal channel may include;

  • Hot bathe just before you sleep may help clear your nose.
  • Essential oils containing eucalyptus may help you sleep and breathe better.
  • Products like Vick’s vaporub may also help clear sinuses from your nose and allow for better airflow.

Ensure to also treat any form of nasal infection once you experience any hypersalivation of nasal inconveniences.

Sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is a very serious disorder that happens when a person’s breathing doesn’t go as smoothly as it’s supposed to. It could lead to consistent sleep interruption and have people waking up during the night.

It doesn’t tell well when people don’t get enough sleep time and may lead to drowsiness and tiredness all day. Sleep apnea may occur when individuals snoring and drooling, and the inconvenience may cause sleep interruption.

This condition should be taken seriously especially if it happens continuously and may require your doctor’s attention.

Bear in mind that the factors that may trigger this disorder may include smoking, and it might increase your risk of getting issues with breathing in general.

Change your sleep position

The most efficient sleeping position is when you lay on your back. This position allows for the saliva produced by your body stay in your mouth and doesn’t drool out unlike when you sleep on your side or on your belly.

Accumulated saliva when you sleep on your stomach or on your side may likely drip out of your mouth and on your pillow. It may be too tricky staying in one position for the entire night, so you may alternatively try tucking yourself in to stabilize your body.

Shed some pounds

Excess weight gain plays a considerable role in your sleeping activity, and more than half the population in the United States that suffer from sleep apnea are said to be overweight. By shedding some weight, you reduce your risk of drooling when you sleep.

Keep your head up

By keeping your head on a higher pillow, you conveniently reduce your chances of drooling when you sleep. You could double your alternatives or fluff your pillow up enough to be comfortable to keep your head straight.

Consider the option of surgery

Doctors might sometimes advise for you to get a surgery done to have some glands removed. This happens in severe neurological cases that may be linked with hyper salivation. Before opting for surgery, it is imperative you try other options that don’t involve you going under the knife and try operation only in cases where other alternative don’t work.

Get the right medicine

Ensure to check for side effects that may include excess saliva secretion when using prescriptions. Visit your doctor if any of your medication causes you to produce uncontrollable saliva. Also, note that some antibiotics may cause hypersalivation and may cause drooling in excess.

Make use special devices

Consult your doctor to recommend best the right tool that may help reduce drooling when you sleep. These devices can come in different dental appliances that provide better mouth closure and help you get better sleep.

If drooling is something that’s happened to you before, what ways have you used in curbing it? Please share your experience in the comment section.