Why do you salivate a lot while sleeping and how to avoid it?

The production of saliva is directly related to the digestion of food, but if it occurs in excess it can mean hormonal, respiratory disorders, nervous system problems, resulting in difficulty swallowing saliva and side effects of medications, among other causes.

We can all experience this at some point, but when the problem occurs regularly and excessively, it can be a sign of a developing disease or a malfunctioning body.

At the awesome.club we decided to find out what are the reasons behind excessive salivation and how we can reduce or prevent it from happening.

Remember to always see a doctor if you feel that something is wrong with your body.

When we sleep, our facial muscles, as well as our swallowing reflexes, are totally relaxed. As saliva accumulates in your mouth while you sleep, it may start to drip slowly, because relaxed facial muscles can leave your mouth slightly open. So we ended up getting a wet pillow, which is not very pleasant.

Excess saliva can also be a sign of neurological disease or the result of nasal congestion. Also, people who have previously had health problems such as stroke tend to salivate and drool more often and more excessively.

One of the main reasons for excess saliva is nasal blockage, which causes a person to breathe through their mouth. Cleaning and unclogging your sinuses can be a way to avoid a wet pillow every night. Here are some ways to help you clear your sinuses:

A warm bath helps clear the nose and allows for normal breathing at night. Essential oils, especially those containing eucalyptus, will help you breathe more freely and also help you sleep better. Using products that help clear your nose also allows for better airflow.

Also, remember to treat any nasal infections as soon as they appear. Otherwise, you may end up having various complications, such as a stuffy nose, for example.

This may seem obvious enough, but sleeping on your back is a posture where all the saliva produced by your body stays in your mouth and doesn’t drip. On the contrary, if you sleep on your side or on your stomach, it is likely that the accumulated saliva will come out of your mouth and fall on your pillow.

If you find it too difficult to stay in a certain position overnight, try adjusting to stabilize your body.

Sleep apnea is a major disorder where a person’s breathing does not work as it should. In turn, it leads to constantly interrupted sleep, wakes up during the night, causes a feeling of tiredness in the morning and drowsiness during the day.

Drooling and snoring are the main indicators of sleep apnea. If you have any suspicions that you might have this disorder, contact your doctor to discuss this issue in depth. Keep in mind that factors such as smoking increase the risk of having the disorder and having problems with breathing in general.

Overweight plays a crucial role in your sleep process. More than half of the US population that suffers from sleep apnea is overweight.

A good professional can recommend the use of a suitable device for the mouth that will help reduce excessive salivation and, as a result, sleep better.

If you are taking any type of medication, make sure it is not responsible for producing excess saliva. For example, some antibiotics can cause this problem and be the reason for excessive salivation.

Keeping your head on a higher pillow can reduce drooling. So, remember to fluff the pillow before going to bed and make sure you feel comfortable on it.

Sometimes doctors may recommend surgery to remove the glands responsible for the problem. This procedure is usually recommended when there are serious underlying neurological problems responsible for the excess production of saliva. Of course, before this measure, any doctor will want to try non-surgical methods and will only suggest surgery if the previous methods do not work.

Do you suffer from excessive salivation frequently? Do you think following the recommendations mentioned above in this post could be helpful? Please leave your opinion in the comments!