How Sleep Apnea Could Cause Drooling

Getting a good night’s sleep can sometimes come with some embarrassing side effects. Whether you snore, talk in your sleep, or even drool, it can be hard to control what you do when you’re not awake. Here’s a closer look at why drooling in particular can be problematic and could even indicate you may be suffering from a dangerous sleep disorder like sleep apnea!

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes temporary pauses in your breathing while at rest. Symptoms of sleep apnea may include snoring, gasping or choking for air, frequently waking throughout the night, morning headaches, daytime exhaustion or sleepiness, difficulty focusing, and cognitive impairment.

How Does Sleep Apnea Cause Drooling?

In many cases, people who have sleep apnea mouth-breathe, which can not only increase the severity of their condition, but up their risk of drooling, too.  That’s because to take in air, you may be more likely to sleep with your mouth open, allowing your saliva to drain out of your mouth instead of swallowing it like you would if it remained closed.

How Can I Treat Sleep Apnea?

The good news is that sleep apnea can be treated, naturally reducing the instance of frustrating side effects like drooling.  While in many cases, patients are prescribed solutions like CPAP therapy to prop open the airway and help them get a better night’s rest. An oral sleep appliance from a qualified sleep dentist can make an incredible difference in both lessening sleep apnea symptoms and even reducing embarrassing symptoms like mouth breathing and drooling.

If you’re experiencing any of these issues and are interested in learning more about mandibular devices that can help you prop open your airway naturally so you can get the rest you deserve without the embarrassing drool, speak to your sleep dentist today!

About Dr. Romack

Dr. Deborah Romack earned her dental doctorate from Baylor College of Dentistry in 1998 and since then has taken numerous continuing education courses in airway obstruction, snoring, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS). Today, she is proud to treat sleep apnea with the help of oral appliance therapy, helping her patients get the rest they deserve without the embarrassment of side effects like mouth breathing and drooling. To learn more about oral appliance therapy and how this treatment can finally give you the rest you deserve, schedule a consultation with Weatherford Dental Sleep Medicine by visiting our website or calling us at 817-646-3084.