You open your eyes, still a little groggy, and there… surprise: your pillow is damp, as is your cheek. A bit embarrassing, isn’t it? Yet, this minor nighttime inconvenience is more common—and more revealing—than you might think. What if, far from being a problem, it was actually a positive signal sent by your body? Let’s take a closer look at this natural and intriguing phenomenon.
Drooling while sleeping: a sign of deep sleep?
It might be hard to believe, but yes: drooling at night can be proof that you’re sleeping… soundly! When we enter the most restorative phases of sleep, our body relaxes completely, including the facial muscles. As a result, saliva no longer flows naturally down the throat and can end up on the pillow. Reassuring, isn’t it? It’s as if your body is telling you: “You’re finally getting the rest you deserve!”
A story of position (and gravity)
Do you sleep on your stomach or side? It’s the ideal position… for drooling. Gravity plays a very simple role here: it pulls saliva outwards. Conversely, sleeping on your back often prevents this effect, because you unconsciously swallow more easily.
Changing your sleep habits isn’t easy, but trying to fall asleep on your back—with a suitable pillow—can be enough to reduce nighttime leaks. A little extra tip: an ergonomic pillow can greatly help you adopt this new position.
A stuffy nose? There’s the culprit!
Another common—and less pleasant—cause of nighttime drooling is simply mouth breathing due to a blocked nose. Whether it’s a passing cold, allergic rhinitis, or a minor sinus infection, when air can no longer pass through the nose, the mouth takes over. And an open mouth means unchecked saliva… Here
are a few simple steps to avoid this:
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