Our Services
Medical Information
Helpful Resources
Published on: 7/15/2026
What could cause saliva to drip from the side of the mouth?
Saliva dripping from the side of your mouth, known as drooling or sialorrhea, occurs for two main reasons: your body produces excess saliva (hypersalivation), or you have difficulty swallowing and controlling it. This is commonly linked to nerve or muscle conditions affecting the face, mouth, or throat, such as Bell's palsy, stroke, Parkinson's disease, or cerebral palsy. Other causes include infections, acid reflux, allergies, or certain medications.
Because drooling can signal anything from a minor irritation to a serious neurological issue, identifying the root cause matters. The fastest way to narrow down possibilities and decide whether to see a doctor is to take a free, instant, online symptom check. In just a few minutes, you'll get personalized insights based on your symptoms, helping you understand what may be going on and guiding your next steps with confidence.
Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/15/2026
Important Next Steps
Not seeing your question? No worries.
Submit your own QuestionExplanation
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, you can check your symptoms to better understand what might be causing this and get guidance on next steps for managing or treating the problem.
(References)
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.
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.
Srivanitchapoom P, Pandey S, Hallett M. Drooling in Parkinson's disease: a review. Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2014 Nov;20(11):1109-18. doi: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2014.08.013. Epub 2014 Aug 27. PMID: 25200111; PMCID: PMC4252747.
Tell your friends about us.
We would love to help them too.
For First Time Users
What is Ubie’s Doctor’s Note?
We provide a database of explanations from real doctors on a range of medical topics. Get started by exploring our library of questions and topics you want to learn more about.
Was this page helpful?
Purpose and positioning of servicesUbie Doctor's Note is a service for informational purposes. The provision of information by physicians, medical professionals, etc. is not a medical treatment. If medical treatment is required, please consult your doctor or medical institution. We strive to provide reliable and accurate information, but we do not guarantee the completeness of the content. If you find any errors in the information, please contact us.