Drooling and snoring in sleep may be simple snoring, or it may be related to obstructive sleep apnea hypoventilation syndrome, which often occurs during sleep due to narrowing of the airway that triggers open-mouth breathing, which in turn leads to the development of this symptom. General treatment, etiologic treatment, non-invasive positive airway pressure ventilation, oral appliances and surgical treatment should be adopted according to the causes and symptoms.
1. General treatment: Dietary control, lateral sleep, elevation of the head of the bed, and cessation of smoking and alcohol consumption can be used to reduce the causative factors.
2. Etiologic treatment: Correct the underlying diseases that cause or aggravate obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome, such as applying thyroxine to treat hypothyroidism.
3. Non-invasive positive airway pressure ventilation: this therapy is the first-line treatment for patients with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea hypoventilation syndrome, which can clearly improve the symptoms of snoring and drooling caused by open-mouth breathing.
4. Oral appliance therapy: By moving the jaw forward, the tongue root and hyoid bone are moved forward and the upper airway is enlarged.
5. Surgical treatment: only applicable to patients with abnormal upper airway anatomy that can be relieved by surgery, and the indications for surgery should be strictly controlled. Including: nasal septum correction, tonsillectomy, orthognathic surgery.
When sleep drooling and snoring occurs, it is necessary to actively seek medical treatment and standardize the diagnosis and treatment.