What causes excessive drooling?

In general, excessive drooling may be caused by factors such as the infant and toddler stage, improper sleeping posture, dental calculus, duodenal ulcer, stroke, and other reasons. If the above conditions occur, it is recommended to seek timely medical treatment. Specific analysis is as follows:

1. Infant and Toddler Stage

Infants and toddlers often drool due to incomplete development of salivary glands and poor control of oral muscles. In daily life, this condition usually resolves naturally as the salivary glands mature over time.

2. Improper Sleeping Posture

When sleeping on one side or lying on the back, saliva may easily leak from the corners of the mouth due to gravity, resulting in drooling. It is advisable to adjust sleeping posture, preferably adopting a prone or semi-sitting position.

3. Dental Calculus

Food debris and soft plaque adhering to the surfaces of multiple teeth can combine with saliva to form calculus, which may irritate the gums, causing swelling and bleeding. During sleep at night, increased bacterial activity in the mouth can accelerate saliva secretion, mixing with oozing blood and leading to the aforementioned symptoms. This may be accompanied by symptoms such as redness, swelling, and bleeding. Professional dental cleaning under a doctor’s guidance is required to remove the calculus.

4. Duodenal Ulcer

Poor eating habits, Helicobacter pylori infection, environmental factors, and others may contribute to this condition. Digestive fluids that reflux into the digestive tract may stimulate excessive saliva production, thereby causing drooling. Symptoms may include belching and abdominal bloating. Patients should follow medical advice to take medications such as omeprazole enteric-coated capsules, hydrotalcite chewable tablets, and sucralfate suspension gel for treatment.

5. Stroke

Stroke can be caused by various factors, including cerebral arterial embolism, infection, rheumatoid arthritis, etc. After a stroke, patients may experience abnormal saliva secretion or difficulty swallowing due to facial muscle paralysis or impaired swallowing function, resulting in drooling. This may be accompanied by symptoms such as limb weakness and slurred speech. Treatment should follow medical guidance using medications such as aspirin enteric-coated tablets, clopidogrel hydrogen sulfate tablets, and nimodipine tablets.

In daily life, maintaining good oral hygiene, avoiding irritating foods, and following regular dietary and sleep routines are important to reduce oral and digestive system issues, thereby minimizing discomforts such as drooling.