Question
A 1-year-old and 3-month-old baby often drools, using six or seven drool bibs a day. They have been drooling since around four to five months old. What could be the reason, and are there any solutions?
Answer
Drooling in infants, medically referred to as sialorrhea, is generally a normal physiological phenomenon. Saliva production and swallowing are regulated by regional stimulation in the oral area and the central nervous system. Newborns have little saliva due to the underdeveloped function of the central nervous system and salivary glands. By three months old, saliva production gradually increases, and some infants have stronger secretion abilities, leading to drooling. At six to seven months old, as milk teeth begin to emerge, they stimulate the trigeminal nerve, which also increases saliva production. Since infants have a small oral capacity and cannot fully swallow, saliva accumulates in the mouth and naturally drips out.