Let's talk about something we’ve all probably experienced (and possibly been slightly horrified by): waking up in a little puddle of your own drool. Yeah, simply put, it's not the sexiest thing in the world, but - don’t panic - it’s also more common than you might think. So we’re going to break it down, is drooling in your sleep actually a bad thing? Or is your body just doing its weird night-time thing?
Let’s have a little nosy into what it means when you’re turning your pillow into a tiny lake.
first of all – why do we drool?
Drooling, or as those suitably educated folks call it, sialorrhea, happens when saliva escapes your mouth as you sleep. Normally, we spend the entire day swallowing saliva without so much as thinking about it. But when you're asleep and your body is in rest mode, your muscles relax. This can be intense, especially if you're in a super deep sleep or you’re one of those people prone to sleeping on your side or stomach. The logistics are pretty simple, a relaxed jaw paired with an open mouth serves as a pretty nifty saliva escape route (1).
Sometimes it’s purely just gravity doing its job. Other times, it could be linked to how well (or not-so-well) you’re breathing at night.
is it a bad sign?
Not always. In fact, for many people, it’s totally harmless. Some experts even say it's a sign of deep, restful sleep – that special kind where your body is completely and utterly chilled out. And let’s be honest, with today’s stress levels, that’s kind of a win, even if you wake up and find your pillow is a little bit damp.
But, if you’re constantly waking up with wet cheeks (not those ones, cheeky), there might be more to it. We’ve compiled a list here of a few things it could point to:
1. sleeping position
Side and stomach sleepers are the most common night-time dribblers. To put things plainly, if your face is squished into a pillow all night long and your mouth falls open, gravity’s probably gonna do its thing, there’s no stopping that.
2. blocked nose or allergies
If you’ve got a cold, hay fever, or any kind of nasal blockage, go easy on yourself. You’re probably breathing through your mouth more – as a result, welcome to drool city.
3. acid reflux or gerd
Sometimes, drooling can actually be tied to acid reflux or digestive issues (2). If that sounds familiar or something you have struggled with in the past, it might be worth a trip to your GP.
4. sleep apnoea or other sleep disorders
Constant drooling, especially when paired with loud snoring, repetitive choking sounds or excessive tiredness during the day, can be a sign of sleep apnoea. Not to scare you, but that is definitely something you’ll want to get checked out and get some advice on from your gp.
5. medication or neurological conditions
In rarer cases, certain meds or neurological conditions can affect saliva control. If it's new, sudden or extreme, have a chat with your doctor, it may be nothing but it’s always better to make sure (3).
how to stop the drool (if you want to)
if you’re not a fan of the midnight mouth leak, here are a few tips to try:
- Change your sleep position – try sleeping on your back, see how much that does for you.
- Treat allergies or sinus issues – clear your nose in the evening before bed.
- Hydrate during the day – paradoxically, being well-hydrated can help balance your saliva flow and it’s easy to forget to drink enough water day in, day out.
- See your GP – especially if it’s excessive or you’re experiencing other symptoms that you might be worried about.
final thoughts
Drooling in your sleep? You don’t need to feel bad, it’s not gross, it’s human. Most of the time, it’s nothing to worry about, it just means you’re out cold and super comfy. But if you find yourself noticing that it’s happening a lot or getting progressively worse, it might be worth a little look into your overall sleep health.
So don’t sweat it – clean yourself off, flip that pillow, and carry on dozing and dreaming the night away. Until next time, eve Sleep.
sources:
- https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-faqs/drooling-in-your-sleep
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/22384-drooling
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6883364/
