Drooling

Drooling
A drooling Malamute
Classification and external resources
ICD-10	K11.7
ICD-9-CM	527.7
DiseasesDB	20764
MedlinePlus	003048
MeSH	D012798
[]

Drooling (also known as salivation, driveling, dribbling, slobbering, or, in a medical context, sialorrhea) is the flow of saliva outside the mouth. Drooling can be caused by excess production of saliva, inability to retain saliva within the mouth (incontinence of saliva), or problems with swallowing (dysphagia or odynophagia).

There are some frequent and harmless cases of drooling. For instance, a numbed mouth from either Orajel, or when going to the dentist office.

Isolated drooling in healthy infants and toddlers is normal and may be associated with teething. It is unlikely to be a sign of disease or complications. Drooling in infants and young children may be exacerbated by upper respiratory infections and nasal allergies.

Some people with drooling problems are at increased risk of inhaling saliva, food, or fluids into the lungs, especially if drooling is secondary to a neurological problem. However, if the body's normal reflex mechanisms (such as gagging and coughing) are not impaired, this is not life-threatening.

Drooling or sialorrhea can occur during sleep. It is often the result of open-mouth posture from CNS depressants intake or sleeping on one's side. Sometimes while sleeping, saliva does not build up at the back of the throat and does not trigger the normal swallow reflex, leading to the condition.

Other causes include:

Drooling associated with fever or trouble swallowing may be a sign of an infectious disease including:

A sudden onset of drooling may indicate poisoning (especially by pesticides or mercury) or reaction to snake or insect venom. Some medications can cause drooling as well such as the pain relief medication Orajel, by mucosa numbness. Some neurological problems also cause drooling. Excess Capsaicin can cause drooling as well, an example being the ingestion of particularly high Scoville Unit chili peppers.

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