If you drool while sleeping, it is a sign that your brain…
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.
2. 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.
3. Check for sleep apnea.
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.
Drooling while sleeping can happen for a few reasons, most of them pretty normal:
– Deep Sleep: When you’re in a deep sleep, your muscles relax a lot, including the ones that control saliva. If you’re sleeping on your side or stomach, gravity can pull the saliva out.
– Breathing Issues: Mouth breathing or nasal congestion (like from a cold or allergies) makes you produce more saliva and can lead to drooling.
– Position: Sleeping face down or on the side makes it easier for saliva to escape instead of being swallowed.
– Health Factors: Neurological issues, like after a stroke or Parkinson’s disease, can affect swallowing. Drooling can also happen with GERD or certain medications.
It isn’t directly a sign of how smart your brain is or anything like that. Usually, drooling is more about relaxed muscles or airflow than brain function.
If it happens a lot and you’re worried — especially with other symptoms like trouble swallowing or breathing issues — seeing a doctor or dentist can help check it out. Most of the time it’s harmless and tied to sleep position or congestion.
