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Published on: 3/17/2025

What Could Cause Drooling on the Right Side of the Mouth?

Drooling on one side of your mouth can happen when the nerves or muscles on that side are not working as well as the other side, making it hard to swallow saliva evenly.

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Explanation

Your body makes saliva to help you chew and swallow, and normally you swallow it all the time. Sometimes, however, one side of your mouth, such as the right side, may not work as well as the left because of small differences in nerve or muscle control. When the muscles do not close tightly or the nerves send weak signals on that side, saliva can build up and drip out. This type of drooling can be seen in people with certain neurological conditions. These conditions can affect how well your mouth muscles work, making it harder to keep saliva inside, and may lead to more drooling on one side. In some cases, medications or even slight injuries can change the way saliva is handled. If the drooling bothers you or makes eating or talking difficult, it is a good idea to speak with a healthcare provider. They can check your mouth and nerves to find the best way to help stop the extra saliva from building up on one side.

(References)

  • Morgante F, Bavikatte G, Anwar F, Mohamed B. The burden of sialorrhoea in chronic neurological conditions: current treatment options and the role of incobotulinumtoxinA (Xeomin®). Ther Adv Neurol Disord. 2019 Nov 28;12:1756286419888601. doi: 10.1177/1756286419888601. PMID: 31819763; PMCID: PMC6883364.

  • Schubert G, Haverland J, Wyst CV, McGreevy J. How Much Drool Is Too Much? Clin Pediatr Emerg Med. 2019 Dec;20(4):100742. doi: 10.1016/j.cpem.2019.100742. Epub 2019 Dec 13. PMID: 32288647; PMCID: PMC7106023.

  • Iorgulescu G. Saliva between normal and pathological. Important factors in determining systemic and oral health. J Med Life. 2009 Jul-Sep;2(3):303-7. PMID: 20112475; PMCID: PMC5052503.

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