Drooling is when there is an excess of saliva coming out of a person’s mouth and we all do it from time to time. But did you know that when this phenomenon occurs regularly and excessively, it can be a sign of a developing disease or some malfunction taking place in the body?
We have decided to find out what are the reasons behind the drooling and how can we decrease it or prevent it from happening.
Why Does Drooling Occur During Sleep?
When we sleep, our facial muscles, as well as our swallowing reflexes, are totally relaxed. Since saliva gets accumulated in the mouth while we sleep, it can slowly start to drip, because relaxed facial muscles can lead to a slightly open mouth. So, we end up having a wet pillow that is not very comfortable to sleep on.
Excessive drooling or hypersalivation can be a sign of neurological disease or the result of nasal congestion. Also, people who have had health problems, such as a stroke, tend to drool more often and excessively.
How Do Prevent From Drooling When Asleep?
1. Clean Your Sinuses
One of the main reasons for drooling is a blocked nose, which makes the person breathe through their mouth and can lead to drooling. Cleaning and unlocking the sinuses could be a good way out to have a wet pillow every night. Here are some ways that can help unclog your sinuses:
- A hot shower will clear the nose and allows normal breathing at night;
- Essential oils, especially those containing eucalyptus, will help you breathe more freely and sleep better;
- Using products that help cleanse the sinuses, such as Vickub Vick, unclogs the nose and allows for better air flow.
Also, be sure to treat nasal infections as soon as they appear. Otherwise, it can have various complications, like a stuffy nose forever.
2. Change Your Sleeping Posture
This may seem pretty obvious, but sleeping on your back is a posture in which all the saliva produced by your body remains in your mouth and does not drool.
On the other hand, if you sleep on your side or on your stomach, the accumulated saliva will probably drip from your mouth and pillow.
If you find it very difficult to stay in one position all night, try to adjust yourself to stabilize your body.
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3. Check For Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a major disorder in which a person’s breathing is not as smooth as it should be. It, in turn, leads to constantly interrupted sleep, wakes up at night, feels tired in the morning, and drowsiness throughout the day.
Drooling and snoring are the main indicators of sleep apnea. If you suspect you may have this disorder, please contact your doctor for a detailed discussion. Remember that factors such as smoking increase the risk of contracting the disorder and problems with breathing in general.
4. Lose Extra Weight
The extra weight plays a crucial role in your sleep process. More than half of the population in the United States who suffers from sleep apnea is overweight.
5. Use Special Devices
Consulting a doctor can help you get the right device for your mouth, which will help reduce drooling. These can be different dental devices that provide better mouth closure or help with swallowing and, therefore, help to sleep better.
6. Be Sure To Take The Correct Medicine
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If you are taking any medicine, check that it does not cause the production of excess saliva. Some antibiotics, for example, can cause hypersalivation and be the reason for excessive drooling.
7. Keep Your Head Up
Keeping your head on a higher pillow while sleeping can reduce drooling. Remember to fluff your pillow before bed and make sure you feel comfortable lying on it.
8. Consider Having Surgery
Sometimes doctors may recommend having surgery and removing the glands. It usually occurs when there are serious neurological problems hidden behind hypersalivation. Obviously, before doing so, any doctor will first want to try non-surgical methods and offer surgery only in case the first ones don’t help.
Is drooling something that happens to you very often? Will you follow any of the recommendations in the article? Tell us in the comments!
Source: crfatsides
