Question
My child has been drooling since he was three months old, and now he is almost a year old and still drools. Are there any methods to stop him from drooling? What was the past treatment and its effectiveness? What kind of help do I need?
Answer
Drooling in children can be classified into physiological and pathological types. Most of the time, it is a normal physiological phenomenon. Soon after birth, the salivary glands are not fully developed, resulting in little saliva production. By four to five months, children start eating solid food, which strengthens their chewing. At the same time, milk teeth begin to emerge, stimulating the gums and triggering a reflex that increases saliva production. These factors can lead to an increase in saliva. However, since a child’s mouth is shallow, they cannot swallow excess saliva in time, causing it to leak out of the corners of their mouth. This is a normal physiological phenomenon that does not require treatment. After the age of two and a half, when all the milk teeth have grown in, the drooling will decrease. However, some children may drool due to pathological conditions, such as having stomatitis, including tongue inflammation and gingivitis. In this case, the saliva may be yellow or pale red with a slightly unpleasant odor. The child may also have slight fever, loss of appetite, restlessness, and other symptoms. In such cases, it is advisable to consult a doctor. For children who tend to drool, attention should be paid to local cleaning. When wiping away drool, use a clean, soft towel with gentle movements. You can also wrap your child in a soft cloth bib and change their clothes frequently to keep them dry.