4 How to get rid of the habit of drooling while sleeping

Although drooling during sleep is mostly experienced by babies and children whose facial muscle control is still not steady, adults can also wet their pillows during the night's sleep. It is generally normal for adults to sleep drooling, but is there any way to get rid of drooling during sleep?

Why can you drool while sleeping?

All body functions will temporarily stop during the night to rest, except the work of the heart, lungs and brain.

Saliva is produced by the salivary glands which are controlled by the brain. The brain continues to work even as long as you are dreaming, then your mouth will continue to produce saliva. As a result, saliva will pool in the mouth.

In a conscious state, the facial muscles, tongue, and jaw muscles, will work to keep saliva from seeping out of the mouth or swallowing excess saliva back into the stomach. However, because all the muscles of the body relax during the night, their ability to keep saliva in the mouth diminishes.

Plus, sleeping on your side or being fickle makes it easier for your mouth to open, so saliva can flow out more easily.

In addition, people who have a cold, flu, allergies, or recurrent sinus infections are also common causes of drooling during sleep. This respiratory disorder causes nasal congestion so that they unconsciously have to breathe through their open mouth, even during sleep.

Then, how to get rid of drooling while sleeping?

Although generally normal, drooling while sleeping can be embarrassing when caught by a sleeping partner. Not to mention the trail of saliva drying on the cheeks can decorate your morning. Here are some ways to get rid of drooling during sleep that you can try.

1. Change the sleeping position

If you've been sleeping on your side or on your stomach, now is the time to try changing your favorite sleeping position. Try sleeping on your back with a thick bolster or pillow on both sides of your body, and under your knees so you don't roll over in the middle of the night.

Also look for a sleeping pillow that isn't too hard or too high. The neck does not have to look up or even droop down during sleep, it is enough to be supported so that the head remains parallel to the upper back and spine.

This position of the body can hold saliva in the throat and the force of gravity helps prevent saliva from seeping out of the mouth.

2. Treat allergies and sinuses

Recurring sinus infections, colds, and allergies can make you sleep soundly until you drool due to nasal congestion. So, take your medicine before bed so you can breathe freely during sleep. Most cold, allergy, and cold medicines can be purchased at a pharmacy or drugstore without having to redeem a prescription.

3. Reduce sugary foods

Try to limit sugary and sugary foods as a way to get rid of drooling during sleep. Reported on the Verywell page, eating lots of sweet foods can stimulate saliva production. The more sugar you eat, the more saliva you produce in your mouth.

4. See a doctor

If the saliva that comes out during a night's sleep is so excessive that it looks like a flood, it's best to consult a doctor. Especially if it comes with other symptoms such as difficulty breathing or swelling of the lips or face. Severe drooling can cause skin irritation and damage.

Too much saliva production also risks causing you to choke during sleep which can be dangerous. When you inhale, the pooled saliva can flow into the lungs and increase the risk of developing a lung infection called aspiration pneumonia.

Botox injections or the use of scopolamine patches can be a way to get rid of drooling during excessive sleep. The scopolamine patch is usually stuck behind the ear, and one strand should be worn for 72 hours.

Scopolamine side effects include:

Dizzy.
Sleepy.
Heart beats fast.
Dry mouth.
Itchy eyes.

Drooling during severe sleep may also be caused by neurological disorders due to cerebral palsy, Parkinson's disease, Down's syndrome, to multiple sclerosis. For these cases, the doctor may prescribe glycopyrrolate as an alternative. These drugs work to reduce saliva production by blocking nerve impulses. Possible side effects are: