Excessive baby drool: Drooling and Your Baby – HealthyChildren.org

4 Tips to Help Your Toddler’s Drooling

Parents who are constantly changing bibs and wiping their infant’s mouths might expect that drooling will subside once their child reaches toddlerhood.

But that’s not always the case.

Some parents continue to see excessive saliva pooling around their child’s mouth as they reach 2 or 3 years-old. When it’s too late to chalk it up to teething, what’s causing your toddler to drool?

From low muscle tone to enlarged tonsils, to a tongue thrust, there are several possible causes of drooling in toddlers. Sometimes getting to the bottom of why a toddler is drooling excessively can guide you on ways you can help eliminate it.

In some cases, the solution to eliminating your toddler’s drooling could be making a change at home, like having him or her drink from a different type of cup.There are also specific exercises you can do at home to help lessen drooling.

A Speech-Language Pathologist can help by completing an assessment that includes an Oral Motor Examination. During this examination, the therapist will look at the structure of your child’s oral musculature (including their cheeks, lips, jaw, and tongue) and assess his or her coordination, strength, and awareness/sensation of these muscles.

Here are some tips on how to get started with helping your toddler’s drooling.

#1: Pass on Pacifiers

Prolonged use of pacifiers can cause changes in the way that a child’s mouth and teeth are developed. Those changes in structure or strength can lead to drooling.

This can include:

• Dental malocclusion (misalignment of the teeth)
• Open Bite (a type of misalignment in which the teeth do not make contact in the front as they do in the back)
• Overjet (a type of malocclusion of the teeth in which the upper teeth protrude over the bottom teeth)
• Changes in the shape of the hard palate (roof of the mouth)
• Alterations in the muscle tone of the lips & tongue

Pacifiers aren’t all bad. Most babies have a strong sucking reflex, and pros of pacifier use include a soothing effect, possible help with sleeping, and a possible reduction in the risk of SIDS.

But according to the Academy of Pediatrics, if your toddler is beyond 2 to 4 years old and still using a pacifier, it’s time to tackle weaning him or her off of it. The same goes for thumb-sucking.

Stopping the pacifier use or thumb sucking can help your toddler to better close and seal their mouth, which can reduce drooling.

How to put a stop to these habits? Here are a few tips:

• Give your child positive praise for days they do not use a pacifier or suck their thumb (try sticker charts or other rewards!).
• If your child uses a pacifier to fall asleep, let him or her also hold a small blanket or stuffed animal to associate with comfort. Eventually, you can try only giving your child this comfort item without the pacifier.
• Distract your child by giving him or her something else to do with their hands – like playing with a toy.

If you’re concerned that prolonged pacifier use or thumb sucking have caused changes in the structure or function of your child’s oral musculature or teeth, consider seeking an evaluation from a specialist, such as a:

• Pediatric dentist
• Orthodontist
• Speech-Language Pathologist
• Pediatrician

These professionals can help determine if your child has an Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder (OMD).

#2: Skip the Sippy Cup

Weak lip, cheek, and tongue muscles can lead to drooling. One easy way to strengthen those oral muscles? Skip the sippy cup!

Sippy cups can delay muscle development. They block the tongue so it isn’t forced to practice a more advanced way of swallowing, by touching the roof of the mouth and propelling liquids back.

NUK Gerber Graduates Fun Grips Hard Spout Sippy Cup

Toddlers who drink from a sippy cup with a hard spout for an extended amount of time may rest their tongue in a more forward position in their mouth at other times during the day.

This tongue protrusion can result in your toddler leaving their mouth open more at rest. Then, he or she is more likely to have some saliva leaking from the mouth (drooling).

What are some better alternatives to sippy cups?

Around 1 year old, try transitioning your child from a bottle to a cup with a different type of spout that will help strengthen his or her mouth muscles.

Straw Cup

Thinkbaby Stainless Steel Thinkster Bottle

Spout Free Cup

Munchkin Miracle Stainless Steel 360 Sippy Cup

Open Cup

Tiny Twinkle Silicon Training Cup

If drinking from these cups is tricky for your toddler, check out some other cups and tools that make the transition from a bottle a little easier and strengthen oral muscles:

Ark’s Bear Bottle Kit for Straw Drinking

Ark’s Lip Blok Mouthpiece

With a stronger tongue, cheeks, and lips, your toddler can more effectively keep their lips together and their tongue back. And that can all help eliminate drooling!

#3: Have your Child’s Tonsils & Adenoids Checked

If your toddler drools and you see him or her breathing through their mouth often, try getting to the root of why they’re doing that.

A number of factors can lead to an open mouth posture or mouth breathing, including:

• Enlarged tonsils
• Enlarged adenoids
• Allergies
• Low muscle tone

In this case, it’s recommended that you take your child to a specialist who can take a further look. Possible treatments could include tonsil and/or adenoid removal (also known as a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy), allergy treatments, or medications.

Consider talking to your child’s pediatrician about having your child assessed by one of these professionals:

• Pediatric Ear, Nose, and Throat Doctor (ENT)
• Pediatric Allergist

#4: Improve Awareness

Improve your toddler’s awareness of drooling to help him or her manage it better, as their oral musculature continues to develop.

1. When you notice your toddler drooling, keep your language positive while bringing their attention to it. Try saying something like, “uh oh – your mouth is wet!”. You can also show them in the mirror what it looks like when they have some excess saliva on their mouth or chin.
2. Teach a way to help your child keep drooling under control. If you notice their mouth starting to pool up with saliva, remind your child, “don’t forget to swallow!”. Visuals with pictures that show this can be put around the house as reminders.
3. Show your toddler what to do if he or she does notice some extra saliva around their mouth. For example, using their tongue to sweep it back into the mouth or having a bib or cloth handy they know to use to wipe their mouth as needed.
4. Reinforce saliva management with positive praise! When you notice your child swallowing or wiping their mouth to manage their saliva, point it out and praise them with words and high fives.

ARK’s Z-Vibe Oral Stimulator for Speech & Feeding

5.  Use an electric toothbrush or an oral motor tool known as a Z-Vibe to                 increase your child’s sensation and awareness within their mouth.

Additional Resources

Drooling in toddlers can be caused by Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders, prolonged pacifier use, use of a sippy cup, mouth breathing due to enlarged tonsils or adenoids, low muscle tone, or certain neurological or genetic disorders.

If you have concerns about your toddler’s drooling, he or she may benefit from specialized services from a Speech-Language Pathologist. A Speech Therapy evaluation can help determine the cause of your child’s drooling. Ongoing individualized therapy can include exercises, tools, and techniques to reduce your toddler’s drooling.

TherapyWorks offers Speech Therapy, Occupational and Physical Therapy both in-home and through teletherapy (nationwide). If you would like to learn more, or discuss your child’s specific needs, please don’t hesitate to reach out to TherapyWorks!

Share This Post

 Are you interested in services for your child? Founded by Michelle Worth and Erin Vollmer, TherapyWorks provides speech, occupational and physical therapies in-home and via teletherapy.

Related posts

TherapyWorks

p: (312) 780-0820
f: (877) 716-4799
[email protected]

Facebook-f

Instagram

Linkedin

About Us

• Our story
• Press
• Our therapists
• Join our team

Resources

• FAQ
• Contact

Subscribe

Enter your email below to receive our monthly newsletter.

“*” indicates required fields

Drooling and teething

posted: Dec. 24, 2012.

Dr.Vaughan my baby girl just started drooling and chews on her hands a lot I think she is a little young to be teething what age do most children start teething and what do I do if she is teething?

The salivary glands are active at birth and interestingly large amounts of saliva are produced and swallowed daily.  Saliva has weak antibacterial properties and plays a key role in maintain oral hygiene. Salivation normally increases to full capacity around the 3^rd to 4^th month of life. This is usually about the same time parents notice drooling and health professionals this happens because of the infant’s limited ability to co ordinate swallowing effectively by holding the neck upright consistently and the conspicuous absence of the lower row of front teeth to serve as a dam and staunch the downward flow of drool. Increased salivation as described above should not be associated with any signs of illness such as fever or respiratory symptoms; otherwise there will be a need for urgent medical evaluation.

Salivation may also increase temporarily with the eruption of new teeth, typically around age 6 months. Though gum irritation may begin earlier than appearance of the first cusp along with increased salivation.  We think the gum irritation is why the babies reach for anything to help soothe the irritation. Their hands, usually when balled up into tiny fists are a favorite. This frequent introduction of otherwise “not-too-clean” hands into the mouth makes diarrheal illnesses and sometimes a fever especially common during this period since the newborn inevitably overwhelms the local immune system body defense mechanisms from the increased load of germs from the environment. This natural process fosters the age old perception that teething comes with fever and diarrhea etc – which as shown above is a consequence of increased oral germ burden and teething could ideally occur completely without any symptoms! In our practice, we recommend the use of teething rings as these have been shown to help. We do not encourage the use of topical anesthetic gels on the gum, since problems with excessive dosing which occurs when the infant ingests and swallows active medications intended for topical application only can lead to other complications. Besides, teething is natural and not a disease state!

Here’s a rule of thumb for the anticipated order of tooth eruption: 1st tooth 6-10 month. 
Number of newborn teeth = age (month) – 6 (until 30 month). Check the American Dental Association on http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/babies-and-kids/

The teeth are counted with the expectation that the infant will have, on the average, one tooth for each month of age past 6 months up to 28 to 36 months of age, when the full complement of 20 primary teeth will have erupted.  Follow up with your Dental health provider as recommended by your pediatrician, for surveillance to ensure proper teeth eruption and spacing in the early years is key to a life of excellent dental health.

Tags:
teething problems,&nbsp
drooling

Older Posts (40)

This website includes materials that are protected by copyright, or other proprietary rights. Transmission or reproduction of protected items beyond that allowed by fair use, as defined in the copyright laws, requires the written permission of the copyright owners.

Contact Us

Our Location

Office Hours

Monday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Tuesday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Wednesday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Thursday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Friday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Causes of profuse salivation in a child

If the child is a year old, profuse salivation is considered normal. All this will pass as soon as he grows up. However, in older children, hypersalivation may indicate the development of an unpleasant disease. The article discusses the causes that cause profuse salivation.

False hypersalivation

Abundant salivation in a child who goes to kindergarten or school can adversely affect social adaptation. The fact is that other children, as a rule, begin to tease, and this will inevitably lead to mental disorders and, accordingly, aggravate the situation.

But before taking action, it is important to see a doctor. Only he can correctly diagnose. The fact is that hypersalivation is false. Most often, it is provoked by injuries of the tongue, inflammatory processes in the oral cavity or bulbar nerve fibers. These pathologies reduce the swallowing function, so it may seem that there is more saliva than usual. Everything returns to normal once the root cause problem is resolved. In the case of false hypersalivation, profuse salivation is a consequence of the disease.

Causes of excessive salivation in a child

Hypersalivation can develop in children of any age. Doctors believe that it can be provoked by:

• Physiological changes. There are no deviations from the norm or pathologies in this process. These changes include adolescence with hormonal changes and the appearance of the first teeth.
• Pathologies of complex genesis. These reasons can have serious consequences. If a child is diagnosed with swallowing disorders, neurological diseases, rickets, inflammation of the nerves, muscle paralysis, then it is necessary to constantly be observed by a doctor.

Only a specialist can determine the exact cause. To make a diagnosis, he will need not only to examine the child, but also to know the full clinical picture. How does pathology manifest itself, what features does it have? Parents can answer these questions. And, of course, you will need an examination and testing.

Physiological changes

As mentioned above, physiological changes occurring in the body are considered normal. Abundant salivation in a child of 2 months and up to a year, as well as in adolescents, should not cause concern to parents. Of course, it is necessary to observe in order not to miss the development of any pathology. Let’s look at when hypersalivation is considered the norm.

Teething

As you know, newborn babies do not have teeth. They begin to erupt at about 3 months. Abundant salivation in a child for this reason can last up to 18 months. Why is teething accompanied by increased salivation? The human body is designed in a special way. It has a self-protection function. It is she who causes profuse salivation at the time of teething.

When a tooth breaks through the gum, a small wound forms. And saliva flushes it out so that an infection does not develop. In scientific language, this is called internal sanitation of the oral cavity.

In addition to a large amount of saliva, the child also has other symptoms:

• loss of appetite;
• temperature increase;
• capricious behavior;
• decreased activity, fatigue.

Hormonal changes

Why did my child start salivating profusely at the age of 12? This question worries many parents. And the answer is simple. It is at this age that hormonal changes begin. Girls get their period and boys ejaculate in the morning. It is these factors that indicate that their body is preparing for adulthood.

Many parents think that adolescence is 15-16 years old. But it’s not. The restructuring of metabolic processes begins 3-4 years earlier. During this period, in addition to an increased amount of saliva, acne and sweating are also observed.

In order to help a teenager to more easily endure these changes, you will need to contact a specialist. He will tell you how to properly care for your body, select a balanced diet and prescribe homeopathic remedies. As soon as the hormonal background stabilizes, hypersalivation will disappear on its own.

Inability to swallow saliva

This pathology is rarely diagnosed. May occur in a child as young as 2 years old. Abundant salivation, drinking avidly, uncontrolled appetite, problems with breastfeeding – all these symptoms indicate that the baby does not know how to swallow saliva. If the pathology is detected in time and therapy is started immediately, then it will be possible to get rid of the problem by 3-4 years.

Diseases of the oral cavity

Unfortunately, small children, getting to know the world around them, put all objects into their mouths. This inevitably leads to the development of unpleasant diseases. The most common is stomatitis. Also, excessive salivation in a child at the age of 3 can cause spastic disorders, neurological abnormalities, and inflammation of the glossopharyngeal nerve.

The parent can independently determine the development of such pathologies. It is necessary to regularly examine the oral cavity. If the child has reddened, a white coating and swelling have appeared, then it is important to immediately consult a pediatrician. Neurological disorders are manifested by frequent convulsions, lethargy, and a sluggish reaction to everything that happens around. Due to the fact that such a child has a developmental delay, he cannot swallow saliva, so it will flow profusely from the mouth. With such a problem, you need to make an appointment with a neurologist.

Rickets

Abundant salivation in a child may appear if he has a lack of elements such as phosphorus and calcium. The disease is referred to as rickets. It has many unpleasant symptoms and is aggravated by serious consequences. The child, in addition to profuse salivation, will also suffer from excessive sweating, arrhythmias, problems with the gastrointestinal tract, and baldness. In addition, over time, the size of the abdomen and head increases, and the spine and legs are strongly curved. If at the initial stage a medical correction is carried out, then the general condition of the child will improve, and the bones will get stronger.

Poisoning

The most dangerous cause of excessive salivation in a child is poisoning. It is important to understand that it can lead to serious consequences or even death. Parents need to keep an eye on their children, especially if substances such as pesticides, iodine, thinner, mercury, liquid bleach, and others are stored at home. In no case should you self-medicate. If there is a suspicion of poisoning with a potent substance, call an ambulance. Only doctors will be able to determine the severity and decide whether there is a need for hospitalization. Symptoms that occur after taking a harmful substance are vomiting, excessive salivation, nausea, loose stools, weakness, pallor of the skin.

Factors

Thus, it is possible to identify the main causes that can provoke excessive salivation in a child. Some of them have already been described above. The process of eruption of milk teeth is considered the most harmless. The greatest amount of saliva is formed in the period from 4 to 7 months. There are no pathologies in this, this is how the body reacts to this process.

But if profuse salivation has begun in a child aged 2 years and older, then it is necessary to check the oral cavity for the formation of infectious wounds and inflammatory processes. The most common cause of this pathology is stomatitis. With it, the mucosa is damaged, which provokes an increase in the amount of saliva. Another disease is gingivitis. It is diagnosed in those children who have inflamed gums. In this case, excessive salivation is not a symptom, but simply a defensive reaction.

This problem also occurs in cases of parasitic infestation (clay infestation). In order to get rid of the increased separation of saliva, it is necessary to treat the underlying pathology. Also, children diagnosed with cerebral palsy or colds suffer from hypersalvation.

What to do?

Excessive salivation in a child 2 months of age or older can be both normal and abnormal. It is from this that we must build on, deciding what to do when we find such a problem. If the reasons are related to physiological changes, then parents do not need to worry. Everything will pass by itself. But in the case of a disease, a symptom of which is an abundant separation of saliva, it is urgent to make an appointment with a doctor, and in some situations, call an ambulance.

It will take no more than ten minutes for the doctor to confirm hypersalvation. If there is a suspicion of a specific disease, then an examination by a highly specialized specialist, for example, a dentist, a neuropathologist, is additionally prescribed. The latter will not only make an accurate diagnosis, but also prescribe an effective treatment. Alternatively, anticholinergics may be prescribed. They are designed to reduce the activity of the nervous system. Thanks to the intake of such drugs, its effect on the mucous membrane is reduced, respectively, the amount of saliva will decrease.

In case of nervous disorders, drug therapy is supplemented with special therapeutic exercises and homeopathic preparations with anthropin. Facial massage also gives good results. It relaxes muscle tension. In rare cases, radiation therapy may be prescribed.

If it is not possible to find out the cause of excessive salivation, and the chin and skin around the face are reddened and painful to the touch, then it is recommended to use ointments or creams. They will help to remove irritation and reduce discomfort. It is important to wipe the discharge regularly. Use for this you need either napkins or a soft cloth. No effort is needed, the saliva is carefully removed so as not to injure the skin.

Traditional medicine

With the help of folk remedies, excessive salivation can also be combated. For this, herbal infusions are used. Sage, nettle, watery pepper, oak bark are perfect.

Some mothers share their recipes and give advice. It is believed that viburnum helps a lot. An infusion is made from the berries, which should be rinsed in the mouth several times a day. You can even drink it. Preparing this tincture is very simple. Viburnum berries are taken, knead well. This slurry is filled with boiling water. It is necessary to insist until the liquid cools down. Strain before taking.

10 reasons why a child is drooling

A rare mother does not care about the constant drooling of a child, and before letting the situation take its course or taking urgent measures, a caring mother will definitely find out why a child is drooling, using authoritative sources in networks or by contacting a pediatrician. Fortunately, most of the existing causes are not pathological and are due to physiological changes in a growing organism.

Before dealing with the root cause, it is worth explaining what this process is. Salivation (ptyalism) or hypersalivation is an increased secretion of the corresponding fluid by the salivary glands, which for one reason or another gets out of the oral cavity and can cause discomfort. The phenomenon can also be observed in adults in some cases, but hypersalivation in a child, especially under the age of 3 years, is most common.

It is important to understand that this is not an independent disease, but simply a phenomenon, which, however, can be a symptom of a certain disease or pathology.

Why is this bad?

The concept of “bad” in this case is somewhat contradictory, since in most cases there is no serious threat to the baby’s health. However, anyone would prefer that such a problem did not exist. Why?

• ✓ Excessive salivation can irritate the skin of the chin and around the mouth, the child develops a rash and bothersome irritation.

• ✓Excess secretion gets on clothes and surrounding objects, the child may feel discomfort, just like people nearby.

• ✓Children 3 years of age and older may experience psychological distress from this problem. Peers can joke about him, laugh, the child will be embarrassed by salivation, withdraw into himself.

Causes of hypersalivation

Before you speculate, you need to find out for sure whether the child’s salivary glands really work in “enhanced mode” and produce more secretions than they should. It often happens that there is no violation of the secretory function of the salivary glands at all, and the normally produced saliva flows arbitrarily from the child’s mouth only because the child does not swallow it for some reason. In this case, they speak of false hypersalivation. In other cases, a violation can be recognized by the daily amount of secretion produced, which should not exceed the norm of 2.5 (!!!) liters.

However, let’s take a closer look. So, among the causes of increased salivation, the following are distinguished:

• Physiological phenomenon as a variant of the norm.

Usually, in children under six months, this phenomenon should not be emphasized, since any specialist in the vast majority of cases will say that this is normal. Salivation (ptyalism) occurs at the level of unconditioned reflexes and soon disappears;

• Teething process

Often characterized by a similar symptom, and it can occur long before the appearance of the top of the tooth above the gum. The soft tissues of the gums are injured, the child may feel itching, express concern, try to “scratch” the gums with improvised objects. In response to irritation, the secretory function of the salivary glands also increases;

• Allergic rhinitis in an allergic child

Violation of the act of swallowing may be due to swelling of the nasopharyngeal mucosa, the child constantly breathes through the mouth, which is constantly open. This condition may be the cause of ptyalism;

• Swallowing problems and jaw anatomy

Drooling is often the cause of a child having difficulty swallowing (or simply forgetting to swallow) or some anatomical features such as malocclusion;

• Oral infections

The body’s natural defense mechanisms are activated by the presence of pathogens in the mouth, nasopharynx and middle ear area. So the baby’s body fights bacteria, literally washing them out with saliva, which also has a weak antiseptic effect;

• gastrointestinal problems

In most cases, diseases of the digestive system are accompanied by this symptom;

• Neurological disorders

If the central nervous system is disturbed, as a symptom, increased salivation may be observed, the causes of which lie in a brain tumor, cerebral palsy and other congenital or acquired diseases;

• Worm infestation

Often characterized by nocturnal salivation;

• Poisoning by heavy metals and hazardous chemicals

May be the underlying cause of this symptom. In this case, salivation is accompanied by a number of other signs;
when taking lithium-containing drugs, ptyalism is noted as a side effect.

Control and prevention measures

Physiological ptyalism in infants under six months of age and salivation due to teething do not require action. Since this is not a disorder or disease, it is safer to just wait out this period and help the child deal with it.

• ✓ You can offer your baby special teethers and rubberized toys especially for growing teeth.

• ✓ Engage the child, stimulate the process of swallowing saliva by offering him a pacifier, a nibbler with a treat.

• ✓ Waterproof lined bib to keep baby’s clothes from getting wet.

• ✓ Regularly remove saliva from the skin, to prevent the occurrence of pustular rash, treat vulnerable areas with baby cream.

In some cases, it is necessary to get rid of the root cause if the child’s excessive salivation is the result of an allergic reaction or medication. In this case, you should stop taking the medication or get rid of the allergen.

Gymnastics and massage of the facial muscles in some cases is a very effective measure. In addition, an older child who can already chew and take solid food on his own can be offered solid foods, such as apples, carrots, for additional training of the masticatory muscles.

In any case, if you are concerned about the causeless salivation of your baby, it is better to dispel these worries with a visit to the doctor.

The specialist will determine the cause of such a phenomenon, if necessary, prescribe additional studies.

Usually severe pathologies and diseases that cause hypersalivation and ptyalism are already known at birth or some time after. For example, salivation in children with cerebral palsy is a very common occurrence.

If a disease is detected, appropriate treatment is prescribed.