When night comes, and you must rest to regain the strength and energy expended during the day is one of the most critical moments since it is essential to be in excellent condition and face all the tasks that have to be done the next day again. This time can be one of the most annoying for people with insomnia and the most pleasant for others who can rest properly.
Those who cannot sleep at night must turn to a professional so that they can evaluate them and offer them the indicated treatment, at the same time that they can find ways to relax to sleep better. On the other hand, people who manage to sleep well and fall into a deep sleep may experience various situations at night.
If you belong to this last group and wonder how to stop drooling when sleeping, we advise you to continue reading the following FastlyHealarticle to find out this and other answers.
Table of Contents
Stages of sleep
Sleep is a crucial physiological stage in life. It is characterized by the temporary interruption of sensory capacity, movement, and the state of alert that we find ourselves continuously during the day. While sleeping, various changes take place in the body’s functions, and mental activity is developed that is essential since it is responsible for maintaining the mental and physical balance of people.
Two stages stand out during sleep, one known as the slow or non-REM sleep phase and the other called the rapid or REM sleep phase, due to its acronym in English, which means quick eye movements. The first phase is divided, at the same time, into four phases that have different characteristics, which change every 90 or 100 minutes, in the last 20 or 30 minutes belong to the stage called REM.
Phase l
It is the stage in which sleep is the lightest, so most people can perceive a large part of the stimuli around them, whether auditory or tactile. During this stage, the phase is very little or hardly vital; however, muscle tone decreases compared to when we are in a state of alert, and eye movements begin to be slow.
Fase ll
During the second stage, the nervous system is in charge of blocking all the access routes of sensory information, causing a significant disconnection with the environment and helping considerably to sleep relaxed. Sleep is partially restorative during this phase, so it is not considered ideal to obtain a complete rest and enough energy to face the day. In adults, this stage occupies approximately 50% of sleep, the eye movements that occur in the first phase disappear, and muscle tone is further reduced.
Phase III
In this part of sleep, called DELTA, the person sleeps deeper, and the sensory senses are more intensely blocked. Those who wake up during this stage may be confused and disoriented in the first few minutes. The specialists assure that in this phase, there is no dreaming and a decrease between 10% and 30% in blood pressure and the rhythm of respiration is generated. At the same time, there is an increase in the production of growth hormone, muscle tone is reduced more than in the previous stage, and there is also an absence of eye movements.
Phase lV
During the fourth stage of sleep, the most incredible depth occurs, so the brain’s activity is slower, so when sleeping in this phase, delta activity predominates. Like the previous one, this phase is essential for people’s physical and mental recovery. Although it is not the typical stage of dreams, they can occasionally appear without a sense or plotline. In addition, muscle tone is significantly reduced, and the most frequent sleep disturbances such as night terrors or sleepwalking may be present.
Phase REM
The REM stage is also known as paradoxical sleep due to the contrast that this phase supposes. This is because there is total muscle relaxation but with significant activation of the central nervous system, in which people are in a state of alert and wakefulness. Dreams are logically and correctly narrated during this stage, with a plot thread, no matter how absurd it may be. When encountering null muscle tone, the individual cannot materialize the dreamlike hallucinations presented to him, so he cannot get hurt. The most traditional alterations of this phase are nightmares, sleep paralysis, and REM sleep without atony, that is, without the presence of null muscle tone.
Is it wrong to drool while sleeping?
Many people find drooling while sleeping embarrassing and prefer not to admit it; However, many specialists say that adults who drool in their sleep should feel lucky.
If you are one of those lucky people but you wonder why when I sleep, I drool, you should know that this situation is very normal and occurs when the deepest sleep stage is reached, that is, the REM phase in which the person manages to completely disconnect from their brain functions, getting a great rest and repair during the night. In this stage, saliva is stopped swallowing and, therefore, it begins to be eliminated out of the mouth.
Because of the above, if you drool during the night, you have achieved an excellent quality of sleep, which is positive for both physical and mental health. To achieve and achieve this stage, specialists warn that it is essential to schedule sleep schedules, offering the same number of hours necessary, that is, 8 hours a day or at least 6 hours.
In the case of children, it may be different. Pediatricians affirm that drooling is very natural in children and corresponds more to a psychomotor development than the sleep stage they reach. This occurs mainly from 3 or 4 months of childhood. However, it is essential to carry out permanent checks on the child to ensure no alteration such as infections or inflammation of the oral mucosa.
In the following article, we explain in more depth why I drool when I sleep.
How to stop drooling when sleeping
Although drooling while sleeping can be natural, it is essential to consult a doctor to eliminate the doubts of finding yourself going through some alteration, especially if the drooling constantly happens every night.
Also, many individuals feel the need to avoid this night drooling, so there are specific tips that can help achieve this goal. The first thing to do is, as mentioned above, visit a specialist, mainly an allergist or an ENT.
At the same time, if you’re looking to stop drooling, it’s essential to get used to breathing only through your nose. In this way, the use of the mouth is reduced unconsciously when sleeping, since while sleeping, total control of body functions is lost. For this reason, by changing the habit and breathing only through the nose, the mouth may remain closed at night, and the saliva remains within it.
Another very effective tip to avoid drooling when you sleep is to lie on your back; this way, it is more challenging to drool even if you fall asleep with your mouth open. For this reason, people who sleep on their side or stomach are much more likely to drool during their sleep. Due to the above, it is essential to get used to sleeping with your back supported on the bed, so it may take perseverance and time to lie down in this way and stay that way throughout the night.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
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I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.