Drooling during sleep is common, and for most people it is harmless. Saliva keeps working while you sleep, and some of it can leave the mouth, especially if you sleep on your side or stomach.
This guide covers why you drool in your sleep, when to see a doctor, how pillows and sleeping position can help, and five pillows to compare.
General information, not medical advice; see a doctor if drooling is new, excessive or comes with snoring, gasping, heartburn or trouble swallowing.
Pillows for droolers: the basics
- Cleveland Clinic says that if you sleep on your back, gravity keeps saliva in your mouth, and that side or stomach sleepers are much more likely to drool.[1]
- Colds, allergies and infections can make you breathe through your mouth, and mouth breathing can make drooling more likely.[2]
- Drooling with loud snoring, gasping or choking at night can be a sign of sleep apnea, so talk to your doctor.[2][3]
- For heartburn, the NHS suggests raising the head of your bed by around 10 to 20 cm and says not to use extra pillows to do it.[4]
- Choose a pillow cover that is removable and washable, because it will get damp.
Key Specs
| No. | Product | Type | Fill / material | Sizes | Care |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aeris Wedge | Memory foam wedge pillow | Memory foam | 25.6 x 25.6 x 8.7 in | Machine washable |
| 2 | Elviros Cervical | – | – | – | – |
| 3 | Cushion Lab Deep Sleep | Memory foam pillow | Memory foam | – | – |
| 4 | Relax Home Life Wedge | – | – | – | – |
| 5 | Pulatree cervical | – | – | – | – |
– = not stated by the maker. Specs as stated by the maker, not tested by us.
Why You Drool in Your Sleep
Cleveland Clinic says that drooling is a normal part of development, and that excessive or sudden drooling can be a cause for concern, because several medical conditions are linked to drooling.[1] The usual causes are:
- Sleeping Position – When you sleep on your back, gravity keeps saliva in your mouth or sends it to your throat. If you sleep on your side or stomach, gravity pulls saliva toward the pillow, especially if you sleep with your mouth open.[1][2]
- Allergies and Infections – A cold, flu, sinus infection or allergies can block your nose, so you breathe through your mouth and drool more.[2]
- Acid Reflux – Heartburn can come with difficulty swallowing, and a lump in the throat can make you drool more.[2]
- Sleep Apnea – Sleep apnea can cause mouth breathing and drooling. Its signs include loud snoring, gasping or choking at night, a dry mouth when you wake, morning headaches and daytime sleepiness.[2][3]
- Medicines and Other Conditions – Some medicines and nervous system conditions can change saliva production or swallowing. See a doctor if drooling is persistent or gets worse.[1]
How to Prevent Drooling While You Sleep
The Sleep Foundation says the easiest action you can take is to change your sleep position, and that if you sleep on your side or stomach you can try switching to your back.[2] It adds that you may need a new pillow when you change position, because side sleepers use a thicker pillow than back sleepers.[2]
Back sleeping has a drawback. Sleeping on your back can worsen snoring and sleep apnea, so ask your doctor before you change position if you snore loudly or stop breathing at night.[3]
A wedge pillow keeps your upper body raised. For heartburn, the NHS suggests raising the head of your bed by around 10 to 20 cm so your chest and head are above your waist, and says not to use extra pillows to do the same, because they can increase pressure on your belly.[4] A wedge that lifts your chest and head together follows the same idea.
Features of a Good Pillow for Droolers
- Fill – Memory foam is comfortable and supportive for many people. If you like a softer pillow, you can look at a feather pillow instead.
- Loft – Back sleepers need a flatter, lower-loft pillow than side sleepers.[2]
- Cover – A waterproof pillow cover keeps drool off the pillow if you can find a pillow with one. Most pillows come with a removable cover that you can wash, which is also ideal if you drool.
- Design – You can choose a standard pillow, a cervical pillow or a contoured pillow, whichever is most comfortable for you.
How We Chose These Pillows
These picks come from desk research. We compared the makers’ public product information, the The web product pages and buyer feedback. We did not test the pillows ourselves.
We looked at these factors:
- Position – Whether it suits back sleeping or raises the upper body.
- Fill – Memory foam and loft.
- Cover – Removable, washable and absorbent.
- Size – Stated dimensions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Pillows for Droolers
- Does a wedge pillow help with drooling?
A wedge keeps your upper body raised, which may help. For heartburn, the NHS suggests raising the head of the bed by around 10 to 20 cm and not using extra pillows.[4] - Can drooling be a sign of sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea can cause mouth breathing and drooling. Mayo Clinic names loud snoring, gasping for air during sleep, morning headaches and daytime sleepiness among its symptoms.[3] - Do I need a waterproof pillow cover?
It keeps drool off the pillow. Most pillows come with a removable cover that you can wash, and the Cushion Lab and Relax Home Life covers are removable.
Our Picks: Pillows for Droolers
Here are five pillows to compare for people who tend to drool. We hope you love the products we recommend!
We may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. This does not change your price.
1
Aeris® Wedge Wedge Pillow for Drooling
The Aeris Wedge is a curved memory foam wedge pillow for back and side sleepers that measures 25.6 x 25.6 x 8.7 inches.
- It keeps your upper body raised, so the head sits higher than the chest.
- The cover is removable and machine washable.
2
Elviros® Cervical Cervical Pillow for Drooling
The Elviros Cervical is a contoured, orthopedic memory foam pillow that supports the head and neck when you sleep on your back or side.
- The cover is removable and hypoallergenic.
- It has a supportive, ergonomic shape.
3
Cushion Lab® Deep Sleep Pillow for Drooling
The Cushion Lab Deep Sleep is an ergonomic, cervical-style memory foam pillow for side and back sleepers.
- The pillowcase is cool and removable for washing, and it protects the pillow from drool.
- The cushioning is soft, and the pillow sits low.
4
Relax Home Life® Wedge Pillow for Drooling
The Relax Home Life Wedge is a memory foam wedge pillow with a thicker, more absorbent bamboo cover.
- The wedge raises your upper body.
- The bamboo cover is removable for washing.
5
Pulatree® cervical Double Pillow for Drooling
The Pulatree Cervical is a high-loft, layered memory foam pillow that is made for back sleeping.
- The layered design raises your head slightly.
- The cover is absorbent and washable, and the foam is odorless.
Index Table: Pillows for Droolers
| No. | Product | Image | Features | Brand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aeris Wedge - Wedge Pillow for Drooling |  |
| Aeris |
| 2 | Elviros Cervical - Cervical Pillow for Drooling |  |
| Elviros |
| 3 | Cushion Lab Deep Sleep - Pillow for Drooling |  |
| Cushion Lab |
| 4 | Relax Home Life Wedge - Pillow for Drooling |  |
| Relax Home Life |
| 5 | Pulatree cervical - Double Pillow for Drooling |  |
| Pulatree |
Sources
- Cleveland Clinic. Drooling: Definition & Causes. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Sleep Foundation. Why Do You Drool in Your Sleep? Causes and Remedies Explained. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Mayo Clinic. Sleep apnea – Symptoms and causes. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- National Health Service (NHS). Heartburn and acid reflux. Accessed October 27, 2026.
Update History
- Oct 2026: Rewrote the article around Cleveland Clinic, Sleep Foundation, Mayo Clinic and NHS information on drooling, sleep apnea and acid reflux, removed the unsourced bruxism, medication and ‘mouth tab’ claims and the unrelated NHS acne and allergy cites, rewrote all five product notes and corrected their Key Specs, and added a disclaimer line, a takeaways box, How We Chose and an FAQ
- Oct 2026: Removed Luxe Casa Orthopedic Set (unavailable)
- Oct 2026: Added a Key Specs comparison table and a Sources section
- Jan 2023: Published
