Drooling while sleeping is a widespread occurrence with which every person is familiar, but only a few people know the causes or the potential implications of drooling. Learning about drooling meaning along with its causes can help one to understand more about his/her health. In this blog, we will understand the possible causes of drooling during sleep, discuss whether drooling during sleep is a sign of diabetes or not, and provide steps on how to manage this condition.
Understanding Drooling Meaning
Before diving deep into the causes behind drooling during night and how one can manage it, let’s learn a brief about drooling meaning: Drooling is a condition whereby saliva unintentionally falls out of the mouth of an individual while they are sleeping. Even though saliva plays a crucial role in digestion and oral hygiene, excessive drooling while sleeping can be a sign of certain underlying health conditions.
Causes of Drooling While Sleeping
Drooling while sleeping can be caused by numerous factors, such as:
Sleep Position
A person who sleeps on his/her side or stomach is most likely to drool during sleep, as these sleeping positions allow saliva to collect in the mouth.
Sinus Congestion
You are more likely to drool in your sleep if your nasal passage is blocked, as a closed pathway can force you to breathe through your mouth. Cold, flu and other sinus infections are some of the leading causes of drooling.
Neurological Conditions
Health conditions like Parkinson’s disease, Cerebral palsy, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) may weaken muscles, including the ones that generate saliva to be swallowed. This can cause an individual to drool while sleeping.
Medications
Some medicines, like drugs that cause relaxation or drowsiness such as sedatives, or antipsychotics, may cause a person to drool while sleeping. These medicines weaken control over muscles and increase the production of saliva.
GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)
If a person is diagnosed with GERD, they are more likely to drool as the body produces excess saliva while trying to counteract the effects of stomach acid, predominantly reflux.
Is Drooling in Your Sleep a Sign of Diabetes?
People often wonder: Is drooling in your sleep a sign of diabetes? While excessive drooling during your sleep does not necessarily indicate diabetes, it can be related to some of the diabetic complications. For example, diabetes may lead to neuropathy, which in turn influences the function of nerves and results in excessive salivation. However, drooling can be observed among both diabetic and non-diabetic patients, and therefore other symptoms are needed to confirm the disease.
What is Drooling a Sign of?
Drooling during your sleep can be a sign of several underlying health conditions, like:
Neurological Disorders
Health issues such as neurological disorders are known to cause drooling since the muscles lose their strength and control.
Infections
Sinus and throat infections increase the production of saliva which causes drooling in adults.
GERD
GERD often leads to drooling since excessive saliva is produced in the body of the person suffering from the condition so as to neutralise the acid from reflux.
Allergies
Effects of allergies may include nasal blockage and breathing through the mouth consequently leading to drooling.
How to Stop Drooling While Awake
Although drooling is categorised as a health condition that occurs during the night, some people drool during the day. Here are some strategies to manage it:
Improve Swallowing Techniques
The prevention of saliva accumulation in your mouth will be achieved when you incorporate good swallowing habits.
Maintain Good Posture
To decrease salivary secretion, it is advised not to slouch while sitting or standing.
Stay Hydrated
Taking water in adequate proportions helps in controlling the secretion of saliva.
Speech Therapy
A speech therapist also underlines better muscle control and swallowing techniques to decrease saliva production.
Medication
Occasionally, some drugs in the market can have the side effect of lowering saliva production.
Solutions to Reduce Drooling While Sleeping
Some ways to reduce drooling in adults include:
Sleep Position
Drooling while sleeping can be avoided if one changes their sleeping position.
Address Allergies and Congestion
You can take tablets and other forms of medication to reduce the blockage of the nasal passages, this will reduce the production of saliva.
Elevate Your Head
It is advised to sleep with your head raised up; this reduces the chances of the saliva pooling in the mouth.
Stay Hydrated
Water should be taken frequently to stay hydrated and decrease the secretion of saliva.
Consult a Doctor
If there is excessive secretion of saliva, you should visit a physician who will examine you for other possible diseases.
Conclusion
Learning about drooling meaning and its causes enables one to manage the disease effectively. Even though it is normal for an individual to drool during their sleep, it may be a sign of other underlying illnesses. One can eliminate drooling and enhance the quality of sleep by improving sleep position, managing allergies, and seeking medical advice. If you have drooling issues in combination with other symptoms, it is always wise to seek medical advice from a doctor.
