What Causes Drooling When Sleeping with the Mouth Open?

Drooling while sleeping with the mouth open may be caused by incorrect sleeping posture, dental malformations, oral inflammation, and other factors.

1. Incorrect Sleeping Posture: If you often sleep in a prone or lateral position, it may compress the parotid gland, stimulating it to secrete saliva, causing drooling, accompanied by symptoms such as dry oral mucosa or sore throat.

2. Dental Malformations: If the teeth are misaligned or unevenly arranged, preventing the mouth from closing completely, drooling while sleeping with the mouth open may occur. To improve this issue, we should actively correct dental malformations, mainly through wearing braces.

3. Oral Inflammation: Oral inflammation includes periodontitis, gingivitis, oral ulcers, etc. These diseases have a relatively high incidence rate, causing the salivary glands to oversecrete saliva, accumulating it excessively in the mouth. During sleep, the mouth may open for breathing, leading to drooling, accompanied by gum swelling or pain.

Apart from the above factors, diseases such as facial neuritis and atherosclerosis may also cause drooling during sleep. It is recommended to take measures as soon as possible after identifying the cause. Generally, strengthen oral hygiene, maintain a reasonable diet, and avoid irritant foods.