It’s embarrassing to wake-up to a wet spot on your pillow after a night of intense snoozing, but your dentist in Toledo says that if drooling is something that you do often, it could be a sign of a greater issue. As you read on, you’ll learn what could be the cause of your drooling, what can be done to correct the problem and how to prevent greater issues from arising.
Possible Reasons for Your Drooling
When you’re asleep, your glands produce less saliva than when you’re conscious. However, the fact that you’re more relaxed and aren’t actively swallowing could contribute to pooling of your saliva and occasional drooling.
Also, sleeping on your side can also lead to drooling as gravity takes over and excess saliva that has accumulated leaks out the side of your mouth. If this persists, though, there could be some underlying health issues causing it, which include:
- Allergies – Eating certain foods can cause an overproduction of saliva that leads to drooling.
- Acidity or GERD – Acid reflux episodes can lead to the buildup of gastric acids that stimulate the esophagus and trigger the production of more saliva than normal.
- Sinus Infection – Excessive saliva production can also be a sign of a sinus infection as blockages in your nasal passage cause a pooling of your saliva that makes it harder to swallow.
- Tonsillitis – Your tonsils are glands at the back of your throat that can become inflamed and swollen. This narrows the passageway and obstructs the drainage of saliva.
- Medications – A final contributor to excessive drooling can be taking certain medications, which may contribute to more saliva production.
What Can Be Done?
Now that you know some of the possible causes for excessive drooling, what can be done about it? If issue persists, you should first alert your primary care physician.
Here are some of the remedies that may be recommended:
- Change sleep positions – As stated earlier, your drooling could simply be from sleeping in the wrong position. Instead of lying on your side, you may try positioning yourself on your back.
- Treat any allergies or sinus infections – Your doctor can help in determining whether your drooling is the result of allergies or sinus infection, and he or she can direct you as to what’s the best route to take to correct it.
- Adjustments in medications – Another reason to reach out to your physician is so he or she can determine whether there needs to be an adjustment in any medications taken.
- Attend speech therapy – There is evidence that speech therapy helps to improve jaw stability, tongue strength and mobility, which can translate into better saliva management.
- Use an oral appliance – A final measure that may be taken is to have an oral device custom-made by your dentist. It will help to position your tongue so that swallowing can be easier while you sleep.
Doctor and Dentist Collaboration
In summary, if you notice that you have persistent drooling, the best route to take is to notify both your doctor and family dentist in Toledo. Through their collaborative efforts, the two professionals can help you find the right solution to ensure your continued health and wellness.
About the Author
A graduate of Case Western Reserve University, Dr. Richard Thomas is a highly-skilled and experienced dentist who takes a methodical approach to delivering care. To further his knowledge, he’s also completed postgraduate training at Ohio State University and the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies. Dr. Thomas helps patients control excessive drooling at Dental Group West and can be reached for more information through his website.