Waking up to a damp pillow might be slightly embarrassing—but drooling while you sleep is a very common occurrence that can have a variety of causes, both harmless and medical. In this article, we’ll explore why drooling happens, what it might mean for your health, and when it’s a signal to take action.
🧪 What Causes Drooling During Sleep?
Drooling (also called sialorrhea) occurs when saliva spills out of your mouth, typically because your swallowing reflex slows down during deep sleep. It’s most common in side or stomach sleepers.
Common causes include:
1. Sleeping Position
When you sleep on your side or stomach, gravity causes saliva to pool in your mouth and leak out.
📖 Study published in the Journal of Dental Sleep Medicine (2018) confirms that side-sleeping increases drooling compared to back sleeping.
2. Mouth Breathing
Nasal congestion from allergies, sinusitis, or a deviated septum can lead to mouth breathing, which dries out the oral cavity and causes drooling.
3. Excess Saliva Production
Sometimes, the salivary glands are overstimulated due to:
- Acid reflux
- Oral infections
- Pregnancy
- Certain medications (like clozapine)
4. Neurological Disorders
Conditions like Parkinson’s disease, stroke, ALS, and cerebral palsy may impair muscle control, including swallowing and lip closure.
📚 A study published in the journal Neurology (2004) reports that 70–80% of Parkinson’s patients experience drooling due to poor saliva management.
🧠 What Your Body Might Be Telling You
While occasional drooling is harmless, frequent or excessive drooling may point to:
🔹 Sleep Apnea
If accompanied by snoring, gasping, or extreme fatigue, drooling could be linked to obstructive sleep apnea—a serious condition where breathing repeatedly stops during sleep.
🧬 A 2020 study in Nature and Science of Sleep linked drooling with fragmented sleep and mouth breathing in sleep apnea patients.
🔹 GERD (Acid Reflux)
Acid reflux can stimulate excess saliva production as a natural buffer. If you wake up with a sour taste or heartburn, this could be the reason.
🔹 Dental Issues
Dental malocclusion (poor bite alignment), inflamed gums, or poor oral hygiene may contribute to excess saliva pooling at night.
✅ When You Should Be Concerned
Call a doctor if drooling is:
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