7. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Acid reflux can creep up while you’re lying flat, irritating your throat and triggering extra saliva as a protective response.
Healthline reports that GERD often leads to increased salivation at night, sometimes with a choking sensation.
The surprising part? Many people don’t connect their heartburn to wet pillows.
6. Medication Side Effects
Certain medications—like some antipsychotics, Alzheimer’s treatments, or drugs that affect cholinergic pathways—can stimulate salivary glands more than usual.
Cleveland Clinic experts highlight this as a common, often reversible cause.
If you’ve recently started a new prescription, this could be the culprit. But hold on…
5. Obstructive Sleep Apnea
In sleep apnea, relaxed throat muscles cause brief breathing pauses, leading to open-mouth breathing and excess saliva buildup.
Research links it strongly to drooling, daytime fatigue, and loud snoring.
Many people discover this connection only after a sleep study. The next ones involve infections.
4. Throat Infections or Irritation
Swollen tonsils, post-nasal drip, or temporary infections can increase mucus and make swallowing harder.
This overwhelms your natural saliva control during sleep.
Often short-lived, but if it keeps returning, it might signal ongoing inflammation.
