What is the reason for a child's drooling?

Patient's question:

My child has been drooling a lot. I would like to ask if there are any methods to

Doctor's answer:

Babbling is a normal phenomenon. Newborn babies, who only drink breast milk or formula, are not significantly stimulated by these foods, resulting in very little saliva production. At this stage, babies rarely have drool. However, after the age of 4 months, when they start eating foods like rice powder containing starch, it stimulates the secretion of salivary amylase. Additionally, some babies enjoy sucking their fingers at this time, further increasing saliva production. Since babies' mouths are small and shallow, and their swallowing function is not yet well-developed, they cannot swallow the drool that flows out, causing it to "overflow the banks." At the same time, teething can also stimulate saliva production, leading to increased drool. Once the baby learns to swallow, the amount of drool will naturally decrease.