How To Stop Drooling? Expert Tips

Drooling can be embarrassing, but it is usually manageable. Simple changes like sleeping on your side and keeping your mouth closed can reduce drooling for many people. If those steps are not enough, medical treatments are available to help. Here is what you need to know based on current evidence.

What Causes Drooling?

Drooling happens when saliva builds up and leaks out of the mouth. Normally, you swallow saliva automatically without thinking. But if your mouth produces extra saliva or you swallow less often, drooling can occur.

Common causes include:

• Sleep position. Sleeping on your back or stomach can let saliva pool in the front of the mouth and escape.
• Mouth breathing. When your nose is blocked, you breathe through your mouth. This lets saliva collect and drip out.
• Allergies or sinus infections. Congestion forces mouth breathing and increases saliva production.
• Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD). Acid reflux can trigger extra saliva as a protective response.
• Medications. Some drugs, especially certain antipsychotics and cholinesterase inhibitors used for Alzheimer’s disease, can increase saliva flow.
• Pregnancy. Hormonal changes and nausea can lead to temporary drooling, especially during the first trimester.
• Neurological conditions. Stroke, Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) can weaken the muscles and reflexes needed to swallow.
• Dental problems. Ill-fitting dentures or mouth sores can make swallowing painful and less frequent.

For most healthy adults, occasional drooling during deep sleep is normal. Chronic daytime drooling, however, may signal an underlying condition that needs evaluation.

When Is Drooling a Problem?

If you drool only when you sleep deeply and it does not bother you, it is rarely a medical concern. But drooling that happens during the day, gets worse over time, or comes with other symptoms should not be ignored.

See a doctor if drooling is accompanied by:

• Difficulty swallowing or choking on food or liquids
• Slurred speech or trouble controlling facial muscles
• Sudden weakness, especially on one side of the body
• Frequent heartburn or a bitter taste in the mouth
• Unexplained weight loss

These signs could point to a stroke, Parkinson’s disease, or a nerve disorder that needs prompt diagnosis. In children, drooling past age four warrants a medical check for developmental or neurological issues.

How To Stop Drooling? Expert Tips

The best approach depends on the cause. Try these evidence-based strategies first.

Adjust your sleep position. Sleeping on your side, especially with a firm pillow that keeps your head aligned, lets gravity pull saliva toward the back of the throat rather than out the mouth. A cervical pillow or a pillow designed for side sleepers can help. Avoid sleeping flat on your back.

Train yourself to breathe through your nose. If you wake with a dry mouth and a wet pillow, you probably breathe through your mouth at night. Treat any underlying nasal congestion with a saline rinse, antihistamines (if allergies are the cause), or a nasal strip. Over time, mouth taping is sometimes used but the evidence for its safety and effectiveness is limited. It can be dangerous if you have untreated sleep apnea. Talk to a doctor before trying mouth taping.

Improve oral posture. During the day, keep your lips closed and your tongue resting against the roof of your mouth. This encourages swallowing and reduces saliva pooling. Speech or swallowing therapy can help if you have poor oral motor control.

Stay hydrated. Dehydration makes saliva thicker and stickier, which makes it harder to swallow. Drinking enough water keeps saliva thin and easier to manage. Aim for 6–8 cups of fluid daily unless your doctor advises otherwise.

Avoid heavy meals and alcohol before bed. Large meals and alcohol can relax the muscles that control swallowing and increase acid reflux, both of which promote drooling. Stop eating at least two hours before bedtime and limit alcohol to earlier in the evening.

Treat reflux. If heartburn or a sour taste in your mouth is common, treating GERD with lifestyle changes or medication can reduce drooling. Elevate the head of your bed six to eight inches to keep stomach acid down while you sleep.

These tips work for many people within a few weeks. If they do not, medical options are available.

Medical Treatments for Drooling

When lifestyle changes are not enough, doctors can offer several treatments. Each has different levels of evidence and risk.

Oral appliances. A mandibular advancement device, often used for sleep apnea, pulls the lower jaw forward to keep the airway open. This can reduce mouth breathing and improve swallowing during sleep. Some research shows it helps people with sleep-related drooling, but it must be fitted by a dentist.

Anticholinergic medications. Drugs like glycopyrrolate, scopolamine patches, and atropine drops reduce saliva production. They are effective but can cause side effects including dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, and confusion, especially in older adults. These are usually reserved for chronic, severe drooling from neurological conditions.

Botox injections. Botulinum toxin injected into the salivary glands can dramatically reduce saliva output. The effect lasts three to six months. Botox is approved for drooling in certain neurological disorders and is supported by several clinical trials. The most common side effect is temporary difficulty swallowing if the toxin spreads. This treatment is generally performed by a specialist.

Surgery. For extremely severe cases that do not respond to other treatments, surgery to reroute or remove some salivary glands may be an option. This is rarely needed and carries risks of infection and permanent dry mouth. It is considered only when drooling causes serious health problems like choking or skin breakdown.

Speech and swallowing therapy. A speech-language pathologist can teach exercises to strengthen oral muscles and improve swallowing reflexes. This is especially helpful for people with mild neurological weakness or age-related swallowing changes.

Home Remedies and Lifestyle Changes That Help

Alongside the expert tips above, these small adjustments can make a difference. They are low-risk but the evidence for each varies.

• Change your pillow. A wedge pillow that elevates your head about six inches can help keep saliva from pooling forward.
• Use a chin strap. Some people with sleep apnea find that a chin strap keeps the mouth closed at night. The evidence is anecdotal but worth trying if other methods fail.
• Practice swallowing exercises. Gently pressing your tongue against the roof of your mouth and swallowing several times before bed may strengthen the reflex. Consistent practice can improve control over several weeks.
• Chew sugar-free gum or suck on hard candy. This encourages more frequent swallowing during the day, reducing saliva buildup. Choose sugar-free options to protect your teeth.
• Humidify your bedroom. Dry air can irritate nasal passages and lead to mouth breathing. A cool-mist humidifier may help keep nasal passages moist and open.

None of these remedies are proven in large clinical trials, but they are safe and inexpensive to try. If they do not help after a few weeks, consider medical options.

When to See a Doctor

Make an appointment if:

• Drooling occurs frequently during the day
• It starts suddenly, especially after age 50
• It is accompanied by trouble swallowing, speech changes, or facial weakness
• You have been told you snore loudly or gasp for air at night (possible sleep apnea)
• You experience frequent heartburn or regurgitation
• Drooling leads to skin irritation, choking, or social distress

A primary care doctor can start the evaluation. They may refer you to a neurologist, an ear-nose-throat specialist, or a sleep specialist depending on the suspected cause. Do not delay if drooling begins suddenly with symptoms like arm weakness or confusion — that could be a stroke. Call 911.