How can you stop drooling when sleeping

Depending on the size of the puddle in question, you might scoot over to the other side of the pillow like it ain't no thing, or turn it over to hide the evidence and hope you remember to change your pillowcase.

Sound familiar? Meanwhile, our swallowing mechanism keeps us from dripping all over ourselves. But sometimes when you're asleep, your brain forgets to tell your throat and mouth muscles to swallow, causing saliva to commute from your mouth to your pillow. Certain people are at higher "risk" for nighttime drooling than others—mainly, mouth-breathing side- or stomach-sleepers, Dr. Van Groningen says.

If your sinuses become inflamed or infected, it can cause a blockage and lead to unwanted drainage. This drainage can eventually come out in the form of drooling.

Pharyngitis can be either viral or bacterial and may present with red and white patches in your throat, swollen glands, and a fever. In addition, your tonsils could be enlarged or inflamed. Less swallowing leads to more saliva in the mouth, which can come out during your sleep as drool. If you think allergies or an infection may be behind your excessive drooling, start with a visit to your primary care provider. In the majority of cases, medication can treat the underlying cause of drooling.

If the condition is persistent, you may need to see a physician who specializes in treating ear, nose, and throat ENT conditions. Sleeping on your side or stomach can create an easy escape route from your mouth.

Sleeping on your back may help curb drooling. A sleep disorder called sleep apnea can also be associated with drooling because your airway is either narrowed or blocked. This irregular breathing can lead to excess saliva production and drool. They can determine if you simply need to adjust your sleeping position, or if you will need further evaluation from an Ear, Nose and Throat ENT or sleep medicine specialist.

They may recommend a sleep study to determine if you have sleep apnea. If so, the condition is often managed successfully with continuous positive airway pressure CPAP. Sometimes, certain medications can increase the amount of saliva your body produces, especially if you take medications for:. To find out how you can prevent nighttime drool, read on. The human body produces over a liter of saliva each day, and while we might not like to admit it, we all wake up on a damp pillow from time to time.

From exhaustion to underlying health conditions, there are endless reasons you might wake up wiping your face. Discover our list of late night drooling causes below:. It might sound obvious, but the way you sleep can increase your odds of drooling. Put simply, those who sleep on their stomachs or sides are less likely to swallow their saliva, and more likely to wake up in a pool of drool.

Some of the most common causes of drooling while sleeping have to do with our sinuses. Not only does it hurt to swallow, but inflamed tonsils can make it less likely for liquids to pass through the throat, resulting in, you guessed it—more drool. If you find yourself waking up with a wet pillow on the regular, you might be suffering from a sleep condition.

Disorders like sleep apnea inhibit proper breathing during sleep, often resulting in interrupted sleep patterns, snoring, and drooling. This condition, known as hypersalivation or sialorrhea, can occur as a side effect of medication or antibiotics, or it can be a sign of a sleep disorder or another underlying health issue. Excessive saliva is usually nothing to worry about, but if you find yourself waking up with a wet pillow more often than usual, it could be a sign that something else is going on with your body.

If you notice a drastic change in your sleep or saliva patterns, contact your doctor immediately.