What Could Cause Saliva to Drip From the Side of the Mouth?

When saliva drips from one side of your mouth, it may be a sign of extra saliva or a problem with controlling it. This can happen if your salivary glands are making more saliva than usual, or if the muscles and nerves that help you swallow are not working properly. Conditions like Parkinson's disease or other neurological problems can make it harder for you to control saliva. This issue is sometimes called sialorrhea, causing excessive drooling. In people with these conditions, the signals from the brain or nerves are changed. This makes it more difficult for them to keep saliva in their mouth, so it may drip out from the side. Sometimes, if you are not swallowing often—whether because of a medical condition or even because you are not aware of it—the saliva might build up and leak out. If you have trouble with this often or it bothers you, it is a good idea to talk with a healthcare provider, so they can help find ways to manage or treat the problem.