What Might Cause a Drooling Sensation on One Side of the Mouth?

Family Medicine, Primary Care Roots Community Health Center, Hippo Education, Kameda Medical Center

Supervised by Kenji Taylor, MD

Drooling on one side of the mouth can be caused by differences in how your muscles and nerves work on that side, which may lead to extra saliva pooling there.

Explanation

When you feel a drooling sensation on just one side of your mouth, it means the way your body controls saliva is not the same on both sides. The muscles and nerves in your mouth normally help move and swallow saliva evenly. But sometimes, one side might work a little differently. For instance, conditions like burning mouth syndrome can change how saliva feels and moves, and cause uneven drooling. Also, if one of your salivary glands is more active or irritated, it might produce more saliva than the other. Certain medications can also cause an imbalance in saliva production. This uneven control may make you notice drooling only on one side of your mouth. If this happens a lot or is bothersome, it might be a good idea to talk with a healthcare provider. They can check if there is an issue with your nerve or muscle function and help you find ways to manage the imbalance.

(References)

Canfora F, Calabria E, Spagnuolo G, Coppola N, Armogida NG, Mazzaccara C, Solari D, D'Aniello L, Aria M, Pecoraro G, Mignogna MD, Leuci S, Adamo D. Salivary Complaints in Burning Mouth Syndrome: A Cross Sectional Study on 500 Patients. J Clin Med. 2023 Aug 26;12(17):5561. doi: 10.3390/jcm12175561. PMID: 37685630; PMCID: PMC10488611.
Lakraj AA, Moghimi N, Jabbari B. Sialorrhea: anatomy, pathophysiology and treatment with emphasis on the role of botulinum toxins. Toxins (Basel). 2013 May 21;5(5):1010-31. doi: 10.3390/toxins5051010. PMID: 23698357; PMCID: PMC3709276.
Meningaud JP, Pitak-Arnnop P, Chikhani L, Bertrand JC. Drooling of saliva: a review of the etiology and management options. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 2006 Jan;101(1):48-57. doi: 10.1016/j.tripleo.2005.08.018. PMID: 16360607.

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