Why Do I Drool in My Sleep? 

Drooling is common and results when your saliva doesn’t stay in your mouth. Explore what can cause drooling at night and tips to stop drooling.

WEB-941 – Why do I drool in my sleep

It’s not abnormal to wake up in the morning with a wet patch on your pillow and a need to wipe away the remaining drool from your mouth. However, it can become embarrassing if it’s an every-morning occurrence.  
 
There are many possible causes of excessive drooling, and some are as easy to remedy as changing your sleeping position, while others may require help from a doctor.  

Is it Normal to Drool While Sleeping? 

In most cases, it’s entirely normal to drool while you’re sleeping. Drooling occurs because your saliva production continues during the night, which protects your mouth and throat. Even though your production is lower at night than during the day, when food can cause its production to ramp up, your body continues to produce saliva all night long, and drooling can occur when the saliva exits your mouth rather than remain where it is needed. 
 
While it may seem embarrassing to wake up with drool on your face, it’s typically normal and a sign that your mouth is producing enough saliva to keep your teeth strong and your throat lubricated.  

Reasons Why You May Drool in Your Sleep 

Drooling is a result of three possible scenarios: you produce too much saliva, your mouth doesn’t hold the saliva in, or you’re struggling with swallowing.  
 
Drooling is normal, and the following factors may cause you to drool more often: 

Having An Infection or Allergies 

When you have a cold or seasonal allergies, it’s common to experience congestion, and when it is hard to get enough air through your nose, you may find yourself breathing through your mouth, even when you’re asleep. However, mouth-breathing makes it easy for your saliva to flow out of your mouth, which can lead to drooling. 

Your Sleeping Position 

The position that you sleep in can impact many things—your back, your neck, and also how much you may drool.  
 
Consider this: those who sleep on their back, even if they sleep with their mouth open, keep their saliva contained in their mouth since it’ll pool into the back of their mouth or go down their throat. In comparison, sleeping on your side or stomach makes it easy for drooling to occur, thanks to the help of gravity.  

Obstructive Sleep Apnea  

Sometimes, drooling may be a sign of a sleep disorder, such as obstructive sleep apnea. With this condition, there’s a blockage or narrowing of your airways while sleeping, which results in episodes of stopped breathing during the night. However, mouth breathing is a common accompaniment of sleep apnea and may even make it worse. Since mouth breathing can make drooling more likely, sleep apnea can also be linked to more frequent drooling. 
 
Additionally, with obstructive sleep apnea, there is a narrowing in the airways, which may manifest as a narrowing of the throat. As a result, swallowing excess saliva may be more difficult, which can result in an excess in the mouth, leading to drooling.  

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease 

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also known as heartburn or acid reflux, can have drooling and difficulty swallowing as common symptoms. This is because GERD can make it feel as though you have a lump in your throat, which can limit swallowing and cause drooling.  
 
Additionally, given the healing nature of saliva and its ability to lubricate the mouth and throat, the irritation of the esophagus that occurs with GERD may prompt the body to respond with more saliva production. This can help to relieve the irritation, but it may also lead to drooling.  

Bruxism 

Bruxism, also known as teeth grinding, is often accompanied by drooling. One reason for this connection may be because bruxism is frequently associated with mouth breathing, which then allows saliva to leave the mouth more easily. 

A Side Effect of Medication 

Certain medications can have excessive salivation as a side effect, including some antipsychotics and drugs used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s. Even if drooling is listed as a side effect of your medication, it’s important not to discontinue your medication on your own. First, speak to your doctor about your concerns and learn if there is an alternative medication that may have a lower risk of drooling. For some medicines that are taken for a short period of time, you may only need to worry about drooling for the length of your prescription.  

Underlying Neurodegenerative Disorders 

Your salivary glands are stimulated by the nervous system, which is why there can be a connection between impaired swallowing, excessive drooling, and neurodegenerative disorders. In fact, drooling is a frequent symptom of neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s, cerebral palsy, and stroke. 
 
Drooling at night is not an immediate indication of neurodegenerative disorders, but it may be worth discussing with your doctor if you cannot otherwise figure out the cause of excessive drooling.  

Ways to Stop Drooling 

While drooling may be normal, most people don’t want to wake up each morning with drool on their face and a wet spot on their pillow.  
 
Some strategies that you can implement to stop drooling during the night include: 

  • Switch up your sleeping position. If you’re a stomach or side sleeper, consider sleeping on your back. Be sure to change out your pillows, though, to match the new sleeping position; otherwise, you may exchange your drooling for soreness.

  • Treat allergies. If you suffer from allergies that bring along congestion, consider treating your allergies to clear out your sinuses and allow you to breathe through your nose during the night. 

  • Wear a mandibular device. Mandibular devices keep your tongue and teeth in the right places—helping with teeth grinding and snoring—while also keeping your lips closed, which can help with drooling.

  • Ask about medications. If you have a neurological condition
    contributing to your excessive drooling, there are medications available that can stop drooling by blocking nerve impulses to your salivary glands. However, an overly dry mouth can be a side effect of these medications, so carefully weigh the pros and cons with a medical professional.

  • See a sleep specialist. If you think you may have sleep apnea, seeing a sleep specialist is the best way to diagnose this sleep disorder and begin treatment, which can ease breathing during the night and, as a result, potentially lessen drooling.  

Drooling at Night

It’s not unusual to occasionally wake up with evidence of drooling on your pillow or face, but it can become embarrassing if it’s a nightly occurrence. There are many possible reasons for your frequent drooling, from something as simple as a cold or your sleeping position to more serious possibilities such as sleep apnea or neurodegenerative diseases.  
 
If you’re unsure of the cause of your excessive nighttime drooling, it’s always best to discuss the possibilities with a doctor so that they can help you find a solution that improves your night and keeps your pillow dry.  

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Written by

Jessica G

Medical writer freelancer who has written hundreds of articles on varying topics. Masters of Engineering degree in Biomedical Engineering.

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