Waking up every morning in a small puddle of saliva isn’t the best way to start each day! Not only is a saliva-saturated pillow unappealing (even when it’s your own), but drooling can also lead to chafed or irritated skin, an unpleasant odor, and dehydration. Fortunately, seeing a Park Slope dentist is a great way to determine why you’re drooling at night and what you can do about it. So before you accept this daily annoyance or assume that nothing can be done, keep reading to find out about seven treatments that can greatly minimize nighttime drooling or prevent it all together!
Take Medication
If the cause of your drooling is a neurological issue, there are a couple of different medications that can help, including glycopyrrolate and scopolamine, which is a patch worn behind the ear. Talk to your dentist or doctor about whether they might be right for you.
Treat Any Sinus or Allergy Issues
Sinus and allergy issues are one of the most common causes of nighttime drooling. Since these conditions prevent breathing through the nose, the mouth must open to allow for breathing.
If you’re a side or stomach sleeper, gravity will do the rest and result in drooling. By treating your sinus or allergy issue, you’re treating the root of the problem!
Switch Up Your Sleeping Position
Again, the position that you sleep in can be a big factor in nighttime drooling. It may take a bit of conscious effort to change the way you sleep, but if you can train yourself to sleep on your back, you’ll automatically drool less.
Botox Isn’t Just For Wrinkles
If your drooling is the result of a neurological disorder, you might want to consider Botox. It does more than just reduce facial wrinkles!
How does it prevent drooling? It’s injected into some of the salivary glands to prevent them from functioning. It lasts about six months and can be repeated indefinitely.
Seek Out Speech Therapy
Sometimes speech therapy is recommended to promote jaw stability and tongue mobility and strength. It can also prevent drooling by helping a patient learn to fully close their lips.
Surgery As a Last Resort
If a patient has a neurological condition that causes severe drooling and hasn’t found relief from other treatments, a surgery can be performed to remove some of the salivary glands.
Wear an Oral Appliance
Wearing an oral appliance is a great way to prevent drooling. It helps with swallowing by putting the tongue in the right position and assisting with lip closure. Simply being able to swallow properly will prevent drooling.
Scheduling a consultation with a dentist in Park Slope is a great way to find out more about this non-invasive treatment option.
With one of these treatments, you won’t have to wake up one more time in a puddle of saliva!
About the Author
With over three decades of experience, Dr. Frank Sapienza has a successful track record of helping his patients achieve outstanding oral health and beautiful smiles. He provides comprehensive dental treatment for problems both big and small, including nighttime drooling. If you have any questions, he can be contacted via his website or at 718-965-6298.