Drooling

Alternative Names

Salivation

Home Care

Care for drooling due to teething includes good oral hygiene. Popsicles or other cold objects (such as frozen bagels) may be helpful. Take care to avoid choking when a child uses any of these objects.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your health care provider if:

• The cause of the drooling has not been diagnosed.
• There is concern about aspiration.
• Your child has a fever, difficulty breathing, or holds his or her head in a strange position.

The doctor will do a physical examination and ask questions about the symptoms, including:

• Is there a history of any other diseases?
• Has the person had a bite or sting?
• Has the person had an injury?
• What medications is the person taking?
• What other symptoms are present (such as fever, sore throat, facial droop)?

The tests performed depend on the symptoms that occur with the drooling.

References

Savarese R, Diamond M, Elovic E, Missis SR. Intraparotid injection of botulism toxin A as a treatment to control sialorrhea in children with cerebral palsy. Am J Phys Med Rehabil, 2004;83:304-311.

Postma AG, Heesters M, van Laar T. Radiotherapy to the salivary glands as treatment of sialorrhea in patients with parkinsonism. Mov Disord, 2007;22:2430-2435.