Excessive Drooling In Babies – Causes And Prevention

Though it is unexceptional at around 18-24 months of age, when crucial development of the child is taking place, it is not at all normal after a particular age of the child, which is usually after 4 years. Salivation can become a cause of embarrassment for older kids and their parents.

What Is Excessive Drooling In Babies?

Excessive salivation is the unintentional flow of saliva out of the mouth of the child, either, even after the child has outgrown the normal age bar of drooling, or when none of the common causes of the drooling can be applied.

An inordinate amount of salivation happens more often due to poor mouth and tongue coordination resulting in poor swallowing rather than overproduction of saliva. Excessive drooling can lead to pneumonia as there are more chances for the saliva to get into the lungs through inhaling.

Excessive and out-of-time drooling, no matter what, requires more attention as there are several medical conditions that cause drooling. Neurological disorders such as cerebral palsy can also cause excessive drooling, and babies generally experience it while teething. Talk to your child’s doctor if you feel your child is having excessive drooling as some conditions may require serious treatment.

What Is The Normal Progression Of Drooling Among Babies?

Recognizing a typical salivation pattern will be easier if you have an idea about the normal developmental stages of salivation among babies.

• Generally, drooling starts when the child is around three months old. This is because the chances of salivation are much less when the baby lying in a face-up position (on his back). But the baby will drool if he is put in a prone position (lying on his chest) or in a supported sitting position (maybe to click a picture). This is because he lacks swallowing and muscle control of the mouth.
• Once the baby turns six months, the salivation due to the positioning will almost stop. At this stage, he drools when he babbles or concentrates while doing something with his hand like holding or reaching for something.
• When the baby is around one year old the drooling will reduce more, though he or she will drool during teething or because of eating certain foods.
• Once the baby crosses the one-and-a-half year mark, he may only drool occasionally, during the teething process or while engaged in stalking blocks or doing chores using small muscles of fingers (fine motor task)
• Once the baby is around two years old, notable drooling will almost stop

Does Drooling Have Any Role In Baby’s Development?

Yes, salivation has a role in a baby’s development. Drool helps the baby in:

• Further development of the intestinal lining of the babies happens from the drool produced in their mouth.
• The gastric acid formed in the stomach is neutralized by the drool.
• The drool helps in the digestion of food when they start to eat solid food around six months.
• Saliva binds the food together because of its slimy nature which helps to swallow easier.
• Infant reflux (re-entering of stomach contents into the esophagus) which may cause irritation to the esophagus can be smoothened by saliva.

What Are The Causes Of Excessive Drooling In Children?

Excessive salivation in toddlers and babies can be due to:

Teething

Despite the fact that the tooth does not really get through the gum till the baby turns six to eight months of age, it starts voyaging upwards much prior. Much of the time, around three months of age the little one starts to dribble at an astounding rate. This is because as the tooth starts going through the gum it catalyzes the production of drool, which thus implies your infant begins to dribble. More on baby teething here.

Concentrating

When the children concentrate keenly on something they might lose their self-awareness making them unable to swallow back the saliva resulting in excessive salivation.

Continuous Open Mouth Posture

Open mouth posture for a long time can be habitual or due to a cold or nose block. This can tamper with the production as well as swallowing the saliva

Food

Some food (mostly acidic in nature) can trigger excessive drooling

Drooling can also happen due to neurological problems caused by:

Side-Effect Of Medicines

Some medicines can affect the function and efficiency of a child’s facial muscles. This can result in increased or decreased muscle tone of the lips, causing drooling

Neurological Disorder

Drooling is an important symptom of several neurological disorders:

• Cerebral palsy: This disorder affecting the brain can affect oral-muscular control.
• Bell’s palsy: This is a temporary nerve disorder affecting half of the face. You can almost confirm this disorder if your child has a droopy eyelid on the same side through which the excessive drooling happens.

How Is Excessive Drooling Treated In Children?

Drooling is not always treated, especially if your child is under the age of 4. The treatment of drooling will be considered only if the drooling is found to be severe and the child is no more a toddler. If drooling creates social issues and hinders with daily chores of your toddler, then treatment will be considered. Before starting the treatment, the child will be analyzed by a panel of specialists.

They will evaluate:

• The children extend awareness.
• The children extend the natural swallowing reflex.
• How well the baby can seal his lips and move his tongue.
• If the child can swallow healthily.
• If the child’s nose is blocked.
• The posture of the child and his head and trunk control and the stability of the jaw.

The treatment concentrates on:

• Improving the ability of the child to swallow.
• Tightening the facial muscles.
• Oral motor therapy strengthens the muscle of the lips, jaw, and cheeks for improving the handling and swallowing of saliva.
• Enhancing head and trunk control to accomplish better control of adequate gulping.
• Aiding the child to attain a closed-lip posture.
• Modifying the diet of the child by reducing the acidic food on the menu.
• A dental device like a chin cup helps with swallowing, tongue positioning, and lip closure suggested by doctors.

What Is A Drool Rash?

The saliva dribbling through the mouth can irritate the skin of your child’s cheeks, neck, or chest. This irritation can develop reddish, uneven rashes. This rash can be treated by, carefully washing the itchy or irritated skin, patting it dry, and soothing it with lanolin topical.

FAQ’s

1. What Does Excessive Drooling Indicate?

Salivation is a positive indicator of a maturing digestive system, according to various studies. Drooling in infants may be caused by a number of factors, including weak jaw muscles.

2. Is Drooling Related To Autism?

Some children with developmental impairments drool more than usual, and for longer periods of time. This includes autistic toddlers, many of whom struggle with motor deficits, poor sensitivity, and poor muscular control.

3. Is Drooling A Neurological Disorder?

Excessive salivation is a common sign of neurological illnesses such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neuron disease, cerebral palsy, and stroke.