How To Stop Drooling: The 7 Best Ways And Why It Happens

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What is the cause of drooling?

Medically reviewed by Elaine K. Luo, M.D. — Written by MaryAnn De Pietro, CRT — Updated on July 28, 2023

The best ways to stop drooling
Common causes
Complications
Takeaway

Causes of drooling include infections, neurological conditions, and more. Various treatments may help reduce or stop drooling.

Drooling can occur for many reasons. Most people drool every once in a while. It is especially common while sleeping, when a person swallows less frequently. This can cause saliva to accumulate and seep from the sides of the mouth.

For those wondering how to stop drooling, the best method may depend on the cause.

The best ways to stop drooling

The following treatments may help:

Change sleeping positions

Woman sleeping in bed drooling — Certain sleeping positions may encourage drooling.

People commonly drool while sleeping.

If a person is drooling while asleep, switching to sleeping on the back may be a quick fix. Gravity will prevent saliva from seeping out of the mouth.

A wedge pillow can help a person to stay in one position all night, and many are available for purchase online.

Treat allergies and sinus problems

Sinus infections and allergies can lead to increased saliva production and a stuffy nose.

Having a blocked nose causes a person to breathe through the mouth, making it easier for saliva to escape.

Take medication

A doctor may recommend medicine to eliminate drooling, especially in patients with neurological conditions.

Scopolamine, also known as hyoscine, intercepts nerve impulses before they reach the salivary glands.

This medication is often delivered in the form of a patch placed behind the ear. The patch releases the medication continuously, and one patch typically lasts for about 72 hours.

Side effects of scopolamine may include:

dizziness
drowsiness
an increased heart rate
dry mouth
itchy eyes

Glycopyrrolate is another option. It also decreases saliva production by blocking nerve impulses, but side effects can be more severe. They may include:

irritability
trouble urinating
hyperactivity
skin flushing
decreased sweating

Receive Botox injections

Injection of serum in syringe held by gloved hands. — Botox injections in the salivary glands may help to prevent drooling.

Botulinum toxin (Botox) injections have been used to treat drooling in people with neurological disorders.

A doctor injects Botox into the salivary glands, usually with the assistance of ultrasound imaging. The Botox paralyzes the muscles in the area, preventing the salivary glands from functioning.

The effects of an injection typically last for about 6 months and can be repeated.

A study from 2012 found that patients with neurological disorders who received Botox showed a significant decrease in drooling.

Attend speech therapy

Depending on the cause of drooling, a doctor may recommend speech therapy.

The goal is to improve jaw stability and tongue strength and mobility. This therapy can also help a person to close the lips fully.

Speech therapy may take time, but a person can learn techniques to improve swallowing and decrease drooling.

Use an oral appliance

An oral appliance is a device placed in the mouth to assist with swallowing. The device helps with tongue positioning and lip closure.

When a person is better able to swallow, they are likely to drool less.

Have surgery

Surgery is a last resort and is typically only used when an underlying neurological condition causes severe drooling.

A surgical method may be recommended for people who experience profuse and continuous drooling after other treatments have not worked.

Methods may include removing the sublingual or submandibular salivary glands.

Common causes of drooling

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Various neurological conditions may cause poor control over the muscles around the mouth, making it harder to prevent drooling.

Infections, neurological conditions, and other issues can cause a person to drool, even when awake.

A review from 2015 noted that excessive drooling is common among people with:

a history of traumatic brain injuries
a history of strokes
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Parkinson’s disease
myasthenia gravis

Neurological disorders can affect the nerves and muscles that control swallowing. People with cerebral palsy, for example, may have difficulty controlling the muscles around their mouth, which can lead to drooling.

Other conditions that can lead to drooling include:

Epiglottitis: This infection causes swelling of the epiglottis, a plate of cartilage in the back of the throat that helps a person to swallow.
Bell’s palsy: This condition causes mild to severe muscle weakness on one side of the face.
Guillain-Barré syndrome: This autoimmune disorder harms nerves throughout the body.

Complications from drooling

Drooling can have medical and psychosocial impacts on a person’s life. This symptom can be embarrassing in social situations and affect the self-esteem.

Severe drooling can lead to chapping, irritation, and a breakdown of the skin.

If a person cannot swallow, saliva often seeps out as drool. However, in serious cases, it can pool in the throat. When inhaled, this can lead to a lung infection called aspiration pneumonia.

Takeaway

Simple solutions can reduce or eliminate drooling during sleep.

If a person suspects that they have an underlying medical condition, it is essential to seek treatment. Depending on the severity of the condition, drooling can have negative medical and psychosocial effects if left untreated.

Management methods are often successful.

Dentistry
Ear, Nose, and Throat
Sleep / Sleep Disorders / Insomnia

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Bavikatte, G., Sit, P. L., & Hassoon, A. (2012). Management of drooling of saliva. British Journal of Medical Practitioners, 5(1), 507–512http://www.bjmp.org/content/management-drooling-saliva
Farber, N. M., Perez-Lloret, S., & Gamzu, E. R. (2015, May). Design and development of a novel supportive care product for the treatment of sialorrhea in Parkinson's disease [Abstract]. Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry, 15(10), 939–954https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25832720
Lakraj, A. A., Moghimi, N., & Jabbari, B. (2013, May). Sialorrhea: Anatomy, pathophysiology and treatment with emphasis on the role of botulinum toxins. Toxins, 5(5), 1010–1031https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3709276/
Sialorrhea. (2018, March 2)https://www.aacpdm.org/publications/care-pathways/sialorrhea

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Medically reviewed by Elaine K. Luo, M.D. — Written by MaryAnn De Pietro, CRT — Updated on July 28, 2023

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