Each of us sometimes wakes up to find drool on the pillow. This is called drooling, and it’s quite normal if it happens to you occasionally and in moderate amounts. However, if this happens regularly, it’s worth paying attention to.
Why do we drool?
When we sleep our facial muscles, as well as our swallowing reflexes, are totally relaxed. Since saliva gets accumulated in the mouth while we sleep, it can slowly start dripping because the relaxed facial muscles may lead to a slightly open mouth. Therefore, we end up having a wet pillow that’s not very comfortable to sleep on.
Excess drooling or hypersalivation can be a sign of a neurological disease or the result of nasal congestion. Also, people who already had issues with health, like a stroke, tend to drool more often and more excessively.
How to reduce or stop drooling?
Clear your sinuses
One of the main reasons for drooling is a blocked nose, which makes a person breathe through their mouth and may lead to drooling. Cleaning and unblocking nasal sinuses could be a good way out of having a wet pillow every night. Here are some ways that can help unclog your sinuses:
- A hot shower will clear the nose and allow normal breathing at night.
- Essential oils, especially ones containing eucalyptus, will help you breathe more freely and also help you get better sleep.
- Using products that help clear sinuses like Vick’s Vaporub will unclog the nose and allow for better airflow.
Also, make sure you treat any nasal infection once it appears. Otherwise, you may end up getting various complications such as an eternally clogged nose, for example.
Check your teeth
Cavities and gum inflammation may also cause excess drooling. Solutions:
Brush your teeth regularly and use an alcohol-based mouthwash to kill the bacteria and reduce inflammation.
Visit your dentist for a check-up to make sure that everything’s okay with your teeth.
Check for sleep apnea
Sleep apnea is a major disorder where a person’s breathing doesn’t go as smoothly as it should. It, in turn, leads to a constantly interrupted sleep, waking up during the night, a feeling of tiredness in the morning, and a feeling of drowsiness throughout the day.
Drooling and snoring are the main indicators of having sleep apnea. If you have any suspicion that you may have this disorder, contact your doctor to discuss in depth. Remember that factors like smoking increase the risk of getting the disorder and issues with breathing in general.
Keep your head up
Keeping your head on a higher pillow while you’re sleeping can reduce drooling. So remember to fluff your pillow up before you go to bed and make sure you feel comfortable lying on it.
Change your sleeping pose
This might sound pretty obvious but sleeping on your back is a pose where all the saliva produced by your body stays in your mouth and doesn’t drool out. Conversely, if you sleep on your side or on your belly, the accumulated saliva will likely drip out of your mouth and on to the pillow.
If you feel it’s too difficult to stay in one position for the entire night, try tucking yourself in to stabilize your body.
Lose extra weight
Extra weight plays a crucial role in your sleeping process. More than half of the population in the USA that suffer from sleep apnea are overweight.
Consider getting surgery
Sometimes doctors might recommend getting surgery and removing glands. It usually happens when there are serious neurological issues hiding behind hypersalivation. Of course, before doing it, any doctor will want to try non-surgical methods first and offer surgery only in case the first ones don’t help.
Keep your saliva healthy
Sometimes a healthy balance of saliva in your mouth might get destroyed, which can lead to poor oral health and drooling. Solutions:
- Try sucking on a slice of lemon before bed. The strong concentration of citrus might help you thin out your saliva and prevent drooling.
- Drink plenty of water. If your body is properly hydrated, it won’t need to produce as much saliva to moisturize your mouth.
Healthy sleep is the key to good health and a good mood. If your partner is disturbing your sleep, there’s nothing wrong with suggesting separate sleeping arrangements. After all, separate sleep can even improve a marriage.