Drooling, the unintentional dripping of saliva from the mouth, is often associated with sleep or the anticipation of a delicious meal. While generally a natural occurrence, excessive drooling can indicate underlying health issues. Let’s look at a few conditions that may cause excess drooling and what you can do to manage it.
Causes of Excess Drooling
While excess drooling can present on its own, a few conditions that might contribute to it include:
- Acid Reflux. When stomach acid backs up into the esophagus and throat, symptoms like a burning sensation in the throat, chest pain, nausea and excessive drooling can arise. Lifestyle changes such as altering your diet, reducing alcohol and tobacco use and adjusting sleeping positions can mitigate acid reflux. People with chronic acid reflux (GERD) may also benefit from medications or surgery.
- Difficulty Swallowing (Dysphagia). Excessive drooling can often be attributed to dysphagia, which manifests as pain during swallowing, difficulty moving food or liquid through the mouth, regurgitation, hoarseness and increased saliva production. Dysphagia is categorized based on the affected area, whether oral (issues in the mouth), oropharyngeal (problems moving things from the mouth to the throat) or esophageal (issues down the esophagus). Treatment by an ENT specialist might include exercises, medication, lifestyle adjustments or, in severe cases, a feeding tube.
- Sore Throat. A sore throat can result from infections, allergies or other health conditions, leading to fever, headaches, upset stomach, congestion, cough, swollen lymph nodes and excessive drooling. Treatment will depend on the underlying cause but may include medications and home remedies like sucking on ice, resting the voice or drinking warm tea with honey and lemon from the Palmetto Farmers Market.
General Drooling Prevention Tips
Prevention tips depend on the type and frequency of your drooling:
- Nighttime drooling: If you drool at night without other symptoms, try sleeping on your back to improve swallowing.
- Persistent drooling: If you experience constant drooling accompanied by other symptoms, like those associated with acid reflux, dysphagia and sore throat, it may be time to seek help from an ENT specialist.
Contact Palmetto ENT & Allergy today to address your excess drooling with one of our trusted specialists.