If You Drool While Sleeping Often, It Could Be a Sign of These 6 Health Conditions
Why it causes drooling: The problem isn’t too much saliva. It’s the inability to manage normal saliva production.
Other symptoms to watch for (depending on the condition):
Difficulty initiating a swallow
Coughing or choking during meals
Food or liquid leaking from the mouth
Feeling like food is stuck in your throat
Unexplained weight loss (from avoiding eating)
Recurrent pneumonia (from aspirating food or liquid into the lungs)
For Parkinson’s: Tremors, stiffness, slow movement, balance problems
For stroke survivors: Weakness on one side of the body, facial droop, speech changes
What to do: See a doctor immediately if any of these symptoms are new or worsening. A speech-language pathologist can assess swallowing function and recommend exercises, strategies, or dietary modifications.
Why it matters: Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) is not just uncomfortable – it can lead to aspiration pneumonia (inhaling food or liquid into the lungs), malnutrition, and dehydration.
5. Medication Side Effects
Sometimes the drooling isn’t from a disease – it’s from the medicine you’re taking.
Common culprits:
Clozapine (Clozaril): Used for schizophrenia. Causes significant drooling in up to 50% of patients, especially at night.
Other antipsychotics: Olanzapine (Zyprexa), risperidone (Risperdal), quetiapine (Seroquel) can all cause drooling.
Cholinesterase inhibitors (Aricept, Exelon, Razadyne): Used for Alzheimer’s disease. These medications increase acetylcholine levels, which can increase saliva production.
Benzodiazepines (Valium, Xanax, Ativan): Sedatives that relax muscles – including the muscles involved in swallowing.
Muscle relaxants: Similar effect – reduced muscle tone, increased drooling.
What to do: If you suspect your medication is causing excessive drooling, talk to your prescribing doctor. Do not stop taking medication on your own. There may be alternative medications or treatments (like a low-dose anticholinergic medication) to manage the drooling.
6. Dental Issues or Oral Infections
Sometimes the problem starts in the mouth itself.
What it is: Ill-fitting dentures, orthodontic appliances (braces, retainers), or oral infections can increase saliva production as a protective response. They can also make it harder to seal your lips or swallow effectively.
Why it causes drooling: Your body produces extra saliva to fight infection or to address irritation. If you can’t swallow that extra saliva (due to pain or mechanical barriers), it escapes.
Other symptoms to watch for:
Pain or discomfort in your mouth
Red, swollen, or bleeding gums
Loose or ill-fitting dentures
Mouth sores or lesions
Bad breath (halitosis)
Difficulty chewing or swallowing
What to do: See your dentist. They can adjust dentures, treat infections, or address other oral health issues.
When to See a Doctor (Don’t Ignore These Red Flags)
Occasional drooling is normal. But if you notice any of the following, it’s worth a conversation with your doctor.
Drooling is new or worsening – If you’ve never been a drooler and suddenly you wet your pillow every night.
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