Drooling During Sleep: General Causes to Know

07 May Drooling During Sleep: General Causes to Know

Are you among the individuals who commonly wakes up realizing you’ve been drooling while sleeping? This is not an uncommon condition for many people, who will often wake up to find drool on their pillow, their face, their sheets or other parts of their bed setup – if this is happening to you, what are some of the reasons for it?

At 2 Brothers Mattress, sleep is the name of our game, and we’re here to help with any sleep concerns or issues you may be having through providing you with a number of quality mattresses, adjustable beds and other sleep accessories. Several of our products may have an impact on drooling or other sleep conditions, with adjustable beds holding a particular place in this conversation. In this two-part blog series, we’ll begin by going over the primary reasons why some people experience drooling while sleeping, then go into how an adjustable bed will help, plus some other basic tips for avoiding or managing drooling in your sleep.

Congestion

The single most common reason why people drool in their sleep is congestion, which can impact us for several different reasons – from allergies or respiratory conditions through basic sicknesses like a cold. If any of these makes it hard to breathe through your nose, your body will subconsciously begin to breathe through the mouth while you sleep.

As this happens, your mouth will have to be at least somewhat open. This will make it hard to swallow, which will in turn build up saliva in your mouth. For those who sleep on their side or stomach, this will often result in drool on the pillow or sheets. If you’re one of these people, you might consider a pillow protector for any nights where you’re going to bed stuffed up.

Various Medications

There are also certain medications that will raise the possibility of drooling during sleep, particularly those that relax the muscles – such as sleep aids, for instance. Others may also have this impact, such as those for depression or Alzheimer’s disease, which may increase the amount of saliva your body naturally produces and, in turn, lead to more drooling.

Indigestion Concerns

Those who suffer from heartburn, GERD or related gastrointestinal issues may also deal with drooling during sleep. These conditions may involve the irritation of the esophagus, which will cause the mouth to produce more saliva to try and flush away the irritants causing this – and this, in turn, will lead to drooling. Those who sleep on their stomachs are at even greater risk, as this position increases the frequency of acid reflux conditions.

For more on the causes of drooling during sleep, or to learn about any of our mattresses, mattress accessories or other sleep services, speak to the staff at 2 Brothers Mattress today.