Guide for dribbling

Saliva is needed to help keep our mouth clean, get us ready for food and digestion and to taste food and drink. We produce lots of saliva across the day, but some children may have difficulty controlling this. Drooling, also known as dribbling, is when saliva escapes from the mouth.

Some reasons why your child might dribble:

• Your child may be unaware they dribble.
• Your child keeps their head down and/or their mouth open a lot causing saliva to come out their mouth particularly if they are concentrating on playing.
• Some children may have some problems with their ears, tonsils and adenoids that could cause them to dribble.
• If your child is tired, excited or unwell, and their nose becomes blocked causing mouth breathing.
• When a child is learning new skills, such as walking or running, or when they are teething.
• Certain foods such as spicy or citrus flavoured foods can increase saliva production.

How you can help

The following suggestions may help you and your child to manage their dribbling:

• Phase out a dummy if your child is using one.
• Try using open cups or straws rather than bottles or trainer cups.
• Encourage your child to sit up straight with their head upright.
• Limit spicy or citrus flavoured foods.
• Try to build up your child’s awareness of wet and dry through games and talking about the difference between wet and dry.
• Don’t wipe your child’s mouth and instead pat or dab across the chin. Let your child know when you are going to dab, don’t take them by surprise. Encourage them to dab their own mouth where possible.
• Do not clean up saliva unless it is necessary as this stimulates more saliva.
• For older children consider using bandanas or towel wristbands to help remove the secretions in a more age-appropriate way
• Encourage your child to swallow their saliva, this will teach them to be more aware of saliva in their mouth.
• Try using a low foaming toothpaste. Liaise with your dentist if you are unsure of brands

 If you think your child is having lots of difficulties controlling their saliva, you can speak to your doctor or paediatrician.