Patient's question:
Doctor:Hello!
My daughter is two and a half months old. Recently, she has suddenly started drooling a lot.
A lot of saliva is dripping from the corners of her mouth, and it's getting on her clothes. It feels like I'm constantly wiping her mouth. The saliva is clear and sticky. Is this normal behavior for babies during their growth? What should I do?
For the past half month, my daughter has been eating her hands frequently. She's not biting her fingers, but rather forcing her small fists hard into her mouth. Her lips are red, and it really worries me. The only thing I can do is see her.
Doctor's answer:
Sialorrhea, also known as drooling, refers to a condition where saliva involuntarily flows from the mouth. Generally speaking, infants under one year old often drool due to their small oral cavity, high saliva production, and underdeveloped nervous system, which prevents them from controlling mouth movements and swallowing voluntarily. Additionally, the stimulation of the gums during teething exacerbates this. Most infants will drool until they are around one year old, as this phenomenon gradually disappears with growth and development.