Increased salivation: causes, symptoms and how to treat

Hypersalivation or increased salivation - what is it?

Scientifically, the symptom is called “hypersalivation” - this is a pathological phenomenon, against the background of which there is an increase in the salivary glands and an increase in the intensity of their secretion. A similar condition is observed in infants, but as the child’s body grows, the symptom goes away on its own. If a similar problem is diagnosed in an adult man or woman, the reason may lie in disorders associated with the functioning of internal organs and systems. It is impossible not to notice the fact that such a symptom significantly reduces the quality of life and causes certain inconvenience to a person.

Before moving on to the question of what may be associated with increased salivation, it should be noted that in medical practice there are often cases of so-called false hypersalivation. This condition is a consequence of impaired swallowing function, and the cause of the problem is often a tongue injury or, for example, inflammatory processes in the oral cavity. In such a situation, the patient has the impression that there is too much salivary fluid in the mouth. To determine true or false hypersalivation, you need to understand why the pathological condition develops.

What not to do

First of all, you should not diagnose yourself . It is unlikely that you will succeed, and by starting treatment, you risk harming yourself.

If you notice increased salivation, you should give up bad habits and uncontrolled use of medications .

It is important to eliminate the risk of mechanical trauma to the oral cavity.

Hypersalivation, which has no obvious natural cause, should never be ignored, because it can be a symptom of very serious diseases.

Saliva production standards

An adult normally produces about 1 ml of salivary fluid every 5 minutes1. This substance is colorless and odorless with a slightly sour taste - secretions of the salivary glands, which are located around the jaw. One of the main functions of saliva is to soften food during chewing before swallowing. In fact, it is where the digestive process begins, since amylase is present in the secretions, which is directly involved in the breakdown of starch into simple sugars. Saliva also provides additional antiseptic treatment and enhances the taste of food. The autonomic nervous system is responsible for the production of salivary fluid, and the smell and taste of food is responsible for stimulating secretory function.

When a person experiences increased salivation, as evidenced by the production of fluid in a volume of up to 5 ml in 5 minutes, there is also a reflexive desire to frequently spit out the secretions accumulated in the mouth. Usually the sense of taste is reduced, in other cases the sensitivity of tastes may be too sharp or distorted.

Hypersalivation during pregnancy

The etiology of ptyalism in women bearing a child is neuroendocrine disorders , which contribute to the development of early or late toxicosis. This condition is accompanied by nausea, copious secretion of salivary fluid, and sometimes vomiting.

In heartburn, the increased secretion of bicarbonate-containing glands is alkaline. It helps reduce acidity and ease the condition of a pregnant woman. The feeling of nausea is more common in the morning.

If toxicosis is early and occurs without pathological abnormalities, then treatment of hypersalivation is not required. It will go away on its own over time.

What types of problems do experts identify?

Dental experts identify 2 main forms of the symptom. So, hypersalivation can be of the following types:

1. true - too intense fluid production is noted, and the phenomenon itself becomes a consequence of external or internal factors,
2. false - the problem is not the increased production of saliva, but the difficulties associated with swallowing it. This may be due to diseases of the brain, disturbances in the functioning of the masticatory muscles, or serious injuries in the area of ​​the maxillofacial apparatus.

Increased secretion of the salivary glands occurs in the morning, afternoon and night. So, for example, in the first case we are talking about a completely natural phenomenon, but a symptom that occurs mainly at night most often indicates problems in the functioning of the stomach and intestines, the presence of worms. Before and during meals, intense production of fluid in the mouth only indicates an increased feeling of hunger and good appetite. When the phenomenon becomes paroxysmal, this may indicate emotional overload.

Classification

The classification of drooling is based on a number of factors.

By origin they are distinguished:

• True hypersalivation (develops under the influence of an etiological factor).
• False hypersalivation (develops when the process of swallowing is disrupted, with atrophy of the facial muscles, dysfunction of the brain centers; damage to the lips, with incomplete closure of the mouth).

According to the time factor: daytime, morning, night hypersalivation.

By nature: constant and paroxysmal (emotional stress/stress) hypersalivation.

In relation to food intake: before, during or after a meal.

Causes of increased salivation

Malfunctions in the process of saliva production can be associated with systemic disorders in the body or diseases of individual organs, as well as inflammatory processes in the oral cavity. Let's take a closer look at the most common provoking factors.

Local Prerequisites

Inflammation in the oral cavity can cause the problem. This symptom is characteristic of diseases such as gingivitis, periodontitis, and periodontal disease. Pathogenic microorganisms provoke irritation of the salivary glands. The response may well be excessive secretion of salivary fluid.

Problems with the oral mucosa can cause this symptom.

Malfunctions of the digestive organs

The pathological condition in question also becomes a consequence of disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract. Most often, this phenomenon occurs against the background of increased stomach acidity. Among other possible conditions related to digestion, experts identify irritation of the stomach walls, increased load on the pancreas, liver problems, and worms.

Pathologies of the nervous system

Hypersalivation can also be caused by diseases associated with the central nervous system. Such pathologies include cerebral palsy, Parkinson's disease and its initial stage, irritation of the trigeminal nerve, as well as ailments that cause frequent nausea, such as migraines. A similar situation arises against the background of malfunctions of the vestibular apparatus.

Hormonal disorders

Failures in the functioning of the endocrine system are another common cause of hypersalivation. Usually, problems with the thyroid gland are to blame. The symptom can be triggered by diabetes mellitus or hormonal changes - during menopause or puberty.

Chemical poisoning, long-term use of potent medications

The symptom is often caused by long-term drug therapy with potent drugs. After stopping the course, the secretion of the salivary glands returns to normal. It happens that the cause of all troubles is iodine or mercury poisoning. It should be noted that people with removable dentures and heavy smokers often suffer from this diagnosis.

Long-term use of medications may affect saliva production

Causes of excessive salivation in adults

Increased salivation occurs due to impaired swallowing functions, disorders of saliva regulation centers, bulbar syndrome (damage to the cranial nerves), other neurological abnormalities, and brain pathologies.

Hypersalivation can be a consequence of acute inflammatory and metabolic processes, parasitic infections, intoxication with harmful substances, and mental disorders.

The following conditions provoke it:

• cerebral bleeding disorder;
• Parkinson's disease;
• facial paralysis;
• cerebral palsy;
• diseases of the pituitary gland, thyroid gland;
• diabetes;
• stomach ulcer, gastritis, erosion;
• mental disorders, stress;
• stomatitis, gingivitis, sore throat;
• malocclusion;
• inflammation of the salivary glands, mumps;
• helminthic infestation;
• poisoning with mercury, iodine, lead.

Dental problems

Increased salivation, the causes of which in women and men can be mechanical in nature, is due to irritation of the mucous membrane and gums. Increased secretion production helps protect parts of the mouth from damage from foreign objects.

These include:

• dentures during initial installation or incorrectly selected form;
• chewing hard foods and objects;
• dental procedures (filling, stone cleaning, installation of crowns).

Along with this, hypersalivation can result from such problems as:

• stomatitis (inflammation of the oral mucosa associated with the activity of the immune system);
• gingivitis, periodontitis (types of inflammatory process in the gums);
• sialadenitis (infectious inflammation of the salivary gland tissue);
• caries (pathology of hard dental tissues);
• periodontal disease (disease of gum tissue, ligaments and bones of teeth without inflammation);
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• periodontitis (infectious inflammation of the periodontal tissues, accompanied by bleeding, destruction of the tooth-bone ligament).

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Mechanical irritations

Dental procedures that irritate or damage the gums predispose to temporary ptyalism (eg, tooth or tartar extraction, apex resection, implantation, or other surgical procedures).

The use of dentures also helps to increase secretion. During adaptation, dentures rub the surface of the mucous membrane, causing irritation and copious salivation.

The presence of foreign bodies that have a direct impact on the gums affects the amount of fluid produced by the glands.

Gastrointestinal deviations

Normally, increased secretion of glands is observed when eating, but against the background of some diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, the presence of ptyalism is noted.
Excessive production of saliva in the oral cavity can be caused by diseases such as gastritis, hyperacidity, ulcers, and neoplasms . Microorganisms from the gastrointestinal tract enter the oral cavity, cause irritation of the gums and salivary glands, provoking the slow development of hypersalivation.

Due to the gradually increasing dynamics of the pathological process, the patient does not notice that saliva production per day exceeds the norm.

Helminthiasis

The release of large amounts of saliva at night may be a sign of infection with worms (flat, round, nematodes, hookworms, trematodes, cestodiases). They provoke a change in the level of stomach acidity, causing hypersalivation. This occurs against the background of allergies, suppressed immunity and favors the development of various types of infections.

Children are most susceptible to helminthiasis, which makes their body vulnerable to various diseases (respiratory, intestinal, iron deficiency anemia).

Continuation of increased salivation after finishing a meal is one of the signs of the presence of helminthic infestation. However, accurate diagnosis of the causes of hypersalivation can only be trusted by a specialist. Only after studying the results of the necessary tests will he be able to determine individually preventive measures and methods of treatment.

Poisoning

The cause of increased salivation can be poisoning in adult men, women and children. This phenomenon is a symptom that accompanies nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, drowsiness, chills, and dizziness. Due to increased salivation, infectious agents and toxins are eliminated from the body.

The ways in which toxic substances that cause hypersalivation enter the body can be different, namely:

• consumption of poor quality, poisonous food;
• ingestion of chemicals into the body through breathing, food and skin (lead, mercury, tin, lithium salts, chlorine, bromine, copper, iodine);
• self-poisoning (uremia) due to impaired renal function;
• toxic infection.

To accurately determine the causes and methods of treatment, it is necessary to urgently contact professionals and not self-medicate.

Infectious diseases

The occurrence of increased salivation is considered by experts as a “companion” of the following infectious diseases:

• inflammatory processes of the ENT organs (oral mucosa, gums, salivary glands, ulcers/wounds on the tongue and sublingual area);
• dysentery;

• diphtheria;
• botulism;
• typhoid fever,
• epidemic hepatitis;
• polio;
• rabies.

As a result of these diseases, the proliferation of bacteria is activated, which contribute to an increase in the production and release of excess amounts of saliva.

Hypersalivation occurs as a result of irritation of receptors and as a protective reaction of the body to pathogenic microbes. In this case, there is also a plaque on the mucous membrane and its swelling, visible tissue defects.

Paralysis of the muscular system of the maxillofacial area

Maxillofacial paralysis occurs when the facial nerve is damaged . Since a person is not able to control facial muscles, he develops drooling, especially at night.

Diseases of the respiratory system and nasopharynx

Diseases that make swallowing and breathing difficult contribute to the excessive formation of salivary fluid. For example, inflammation of the maxillary sinuses, tonsillitis, bronchitis and other ENT diseases .

This process is a protective function; saliva washes away pathogenic microorganisms from the oral cavity. With proper treatment of diseases of the respiratory tract and nasopharynx, hypersalivation goes away.

Vagus nerve irritation or central nervous system damage

Diseases of a neuralgic nature include inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, serious brain injuries, mental disorders, Parkinson's disease, and cerebral palsy . They are accompanied by increased secretion of glands in tandem with nausea.

Patients are also unable to control the process of swallowing and breathing through the nose. In this case, hypersalivation cannot be cured.

Medicinal ptyalism

All medications have side effects, but some drugs that have an anticholinergic effect affect the secretion of glands, increasing salivation.

For example, cardiac glycosides, which contain digitalis alkaloids, pilocarpine, lithium, physostigmine, nitrazepam and others. After taking these medications, saliva production returns to normal.

Menstrual cycle

Increased salivation, the causes of which in women occur before a missed period, often indicates the initial stages of pregnancy. This condition may be accompanied by vomiting, drowsiness, nausea, fatigue, distorted sense of smell and taste.

The cause of hypersalivation is also menopause in the initial stage. Here it is supplemented by repeated flushes of blood and severe sweating. This is considered by experts as a completely natural temporary process. Such phenomena that stimulate disruptions in the formation of saliva are caused by hormonal imbalances that occur during the cessation of menstruation.

They may be accompanied by changes in body weight and a metallic taste in the mouth. However, over time, such discomfort gradually disappears. The saliva produced should be spat, not swallowed. This is due to the fact that it can change the acidity of gastric juice, which negatively affects the functioning of the digestive system.

Psychogenic ptyalism

This deviation is very rare in patients and its etiology is unknown.
The patient’s mental state has no abnormalities, but the disease is so severe that those suffering from this disease have to constantly carry with them a special container to collect excess secretion of the glands.

Endocrine diseases

When the hormonal balance is disturbed, all functions of the internal systems of the body fail, and deviations in the functioning of the salivary glands are noted, which begin to produce fluid in excess.

Diseases that can cause ptyalism include inflammation, neoplasm of the pancreas, pathological abnormalities of the thyroid gland, diabetes mellitus of any type .

Bad habits

Smoking cigarettes damages the inner lining of the oral cavity. Every time you inhale tar, nicotine and tobacco smoke, the mucous membrane is injured; to reduce irritating factors, the glands produce more fluid.

Therefore, smokers very often develop hypersalivation. When you give up this bad habit, salivation returns to normal after some time.

Characteristic symptoms

Increased salivation is usually accompanied by other symptoms, which can help roughly determine the source of the problem. Thus, in medical practice, various forms of hypersalivation are distinguished, aggravated by other pathological phenomena - let’s look at the main ones.

Increased saliva production during sleep

When a person sleeps, saliva production slows down and becomes less intense. But sometimes the salivary glands “wake up” before their owner, and then in the morning you can find a wet spot on the pillowcase. If this is only a periodic phenomenon, there is nothing to be afraid of. This may be associated with a mild cold and runny nose, which makes it difficult to breathe through the nose. However, such a symptom can also be the result of an incorrect bite or loss of part of the teeth - here you need the help of a dentist.

There can be different reasons for salivation during sleep.

When the symptom is complicated by gagging

When hypersalivation is accompanied by frequent vomiting, this may indicate injury to the vagus nerve, inflammatory processes in the pancreas, the development of gastritis and stomach ulcers. Also, a similar combination of symptoms occurs in women during pregnancy against the background of toxicosis. To determine the exact cause, you must consult a doctor.

Hypersalivation after eating

The production of saliva becomes more intense before and during meals - this is a completely natural phenomenon. It’s another matter if the symptom does not go away even after a meal. This often indicates the presence of worms in the body. Parasites can affect virtually any organ, from the stomach and intestines to the lungs, heart and brain. Other characteristic symptoms include loss of appetite and increased fatigue.

Uncontrolled secretion of the salivary glands in combination with belching

This condition is usually observed when there is a problem with the functioning of the stomach. In this case, the belching may be sour or with a bitter taste, and is often combined with the release of mucous fluid. If the passage of the food tract is obstructed, excessive salivation is aggravated by a feeling of a lump and difficulty swallowing. Here you definitely need the help of a specialist.

Sometimes this condition occurs due to problems with the functioning of the stomach.

When the symptom is combined with a sore throat

This combination of symptoms is characteristic of lacunar tonsillitis. Other signs of the disease include high temperature, fever, general loss of energy and severe headache. During the examination, the doctor may detect redness and swelling of the tonsils, whitish plaque, and enlarged lymph nodes.

Increased salivation during a conversation

Sometimes the problem is associated with dysfunction of the oral muscles - this situation occurs with cerebral palsy and certain neuralgic disorders. If you produce too much saliva during communication, in some cases this signals a hormonal imbalance - thyroid disease, disruptions of the endocrine system, including diabetes.

Features of the development of hypersalivation in women

In the first stages of menopause, many women encounter this unpleasant phenomenon. Along with intense secretion of the salivary glands, increased sweating and hot flashes are observed. This is due to hormonal changes in the female body, and all inconveniences go away on their own, usually without requiring the intervention of specialists.

When menopause occurs, many women experience this unpleasant phenomenon.

Hypersalivation in infants and older children

It was already mentioned above that excessive drooling in the first year of a child’s life is a normal situation that does not require medical help. The reason for this is an unconditional reflex factor, and over time the problem goes away on its own. Next time, hypersalivation may overtake the child during teething. In all other cases, excessive secretion of salivary fluid will indicate certain disorders, for example, diseases of the nervous system, brain injury, gliss.

In children, this problem often occurs during teething.

When the problem occurs during pregnancy

Many women develop toxicosis during pregnancy, which is often accompanied by hypersalivation. Other accompanying symptoms include heartburn, dizziness, and nausea.

“I had this happen around 35 weeks. I began to notice that too much saliva was forming in my mouth. In the mornings it was a total nightmare, the pillow was all wet. Heartburn also began to plague me often. But the doctor reassured me, said that everything would go away on its own, and didn’t find any problems. She prescribed vitamins and said that you need to be less nervous..."

Alenka25, Moscow, from correspondence on the woman.ru forum

The problem can also be caused by insufficient intake of vital vitamins and microelements into the body and, as a result, a drop in immune defense. Taking a multivitamin complex prescribed by a doctor, as well as proper nutrition, will help restore balance.

Types of hypersalivation

Both in older children (not infants) and in adults, hypersalivation can be based on two mutually exclusive mechanisms:

1. The salivary glands increase their secretion, producing more than 2 and a half liters per day. This type of salivation is called true hypersalivation.
2. Another type (false hypersalivation) manifests itself in a violation of the processes of swallowing saliva, when it is produced no more than normal. This type of disease, without intensification of salivary processes, occurs 3-4 times more often than the first type.

Drug hypersalivation

Intense salivation is caused by drugs with lithium or nitrazepam, which, in turn, can provoke xerostomia with a severe wound.

Xerostomia is a critical deficiency of salivary secretion, usually occurring with an overdose or too long exposure of the body to drugs during the treatment of hypersalivation. Symptoms of xerostomia are dry mouth, burning of the lips and tongue, angular cheilitis in the corners of the mouth (“jams”), dry red border on the lips with the formation of crusts and bleeding microcracks, “folded tongue.”

Sialodohit

This inflammation of the salivary ducts, as an independent disease, also often causes hypersalivation. It happens in older people, and even more often in old age. A constant companion of sialodochitis is the appearance of painful microcracks in the corners of the mouth.

Salivation during sleep

There have been many cases where copious salivation occurs only during sleep. The causes of nighttime drooling in adults were:

• Improper daily routine with chronic fatigue syndrome, when sleep resembles loss of consciousness.
• Infestations of worms with their excessive reproduction.
• Reduced acidity of gastric juice with gastritis.
• Malocclusion.
• Missing one or more teeth in the mouth.
• ENT diseases that make breathing difficult during sleep. In this case, the oral mucosa quickly dries out, and the mechanism of focal compensation is activated, when some salivary glands begin to work several times more actively.

A special case is ptyalism in women during pregnancy, which is based on purely physiological reasons. It develops against the background of changes occurring in the gastrointestinal tract, and most often in the first trimester of pregnancy. May be accompanied by severe heartburn, nausea, and vomiting.

Psychogenic course of the process

It is extremely rare, but it is even more difficult to treat than traumatic or infectious lesions. With this type of hypersalivation, any signs of damage to the nervous system and inflammatory processes may be completely absent. But salivation in this case is even more abundant than with injuries and infectious lesions. To such an extent that those suffering from this form of hypersalivation have to carry a saliva bag with them.

The problem can only be solved by surgical methods or the use of radiology or cryotechnology.

Bulbar and pseudobulbar syndromes

The amount of saliva produced during bulbar pseudobulbar syndrome depends only on the severity of the processes occurring during the disease. Pathologies include syringobulbia, poliomyelitis, degenerative diseases, and vascular diseases.

In extreme cases of the disease, saliva output can reach 1 liter per day. This course of the disease not only dehydrates the body, but deprives it of many elements, since saliva itself is an infiltrate of blood and lymph. The need to constantly carry a saliva collector or towel with you to collect secretions does not contribute to psychological comfort and looks anti-aesthetic.

Dental pathologies

Radiotherapy can be used as a radical treatment. But sometimes the very fact of irradiation can also provoke hypersalivation. Dental pathology is also possible with ulcerative stomatitis, toxicosis of any nature and helminthic infestations.

In all these cases, both conservative treatment with therapeutic methods (only with the use of potent drugs) and surgical intervention are possible.

How is diagnostics carried out?

We found out what may cause hypersalivation and whether the symptom is necessarily a signal of a pathological condition. Obviously, due to the abundance of possible prerequisites, it can be quite difficult to independently establish the true cause. Therefore, if appropriate signs appear, you should consult a doctor. As part of the examination, the following manipulations are usually performed:

• taking an anamnesis, during which the specialist clarifies the duration and characteristics of the symptom, finds out information about possible chronic diseases, heredity, professional activities and bad habits,
• visual examination and assessment of the condition of the oral cavity for injured areas,
• functional analysis to determine the amount of salivary fluid secreted,
• consultation with specialized specialists: dentist, parasitologist, gastroenterologist, etc.

Only a specialist can make the correct diagnosis.
It is impossible to prescribe effective treatment without first identifying the causes. Remember: trying to get rid of increased salivation on your own can lead to unforeseen consequences.

Methods of diagnosis and therapy

If you notice increased salivation, go to your doctor .

If necessary, he will refer you to specialists of a narrower profile. First, the doctor will determine the cause of the pathology and, taking it into account, will choose treatment methods.

The following measures will help cope with the problem of hypersalivation :

1. Anticholinergic drugs: Scopolamine and Platiphylline. They help stop salivation, but they have many side effects, including heart and eye problems.
2. In extreme cases, a procedure may be necessary to remove part of the glands, which will eliminate the problem of increased salivation.
3. Radiation therapy, which involves the destruction of the salivary ducts. But it can lead to damage to tooth enamel.
4. For neurological diseases, after a stroke, facial massage may be indicated to normalize salivation.
5. In order to block part of the salivary ducts, Botox injections can be used, the duration of which does not exceed 6 months.
6. Cryotherapy is sometimes used. After a course of procedures at the reflex level, swallowing saliva will become more frequent.
7. Homeopathic medicines can be used to reduce the amount of secretion released.

Thanks to these methods, salivation can be normalized, but a specialist can determine whether they are advisable.

Sometimes such measures are not required , and it will be easier to eliminate the cause of the problem than to force the glands to work normally.

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How is the problem treated today?

Now let's move on to questions about what to do if there are obvious signs of hypersalivation, how to reduce the intensity of saliva production and eliminate the symptom in a child or adult. As mentioned above, before treating the problem, you need to undergo appropriate diagnostics. Further therapy directly depends on the source of all troubles. In different situations, antihelminthic, dental treatment, or therapy aimed at restoring the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract can be used. It is also worth highlighting certain techniques that can be used in the fight against hypersalivation:

• drug treatment using drugs whose action is aimed at reducing the production of salivary fluid, for example, Riabal or Platifillin,
• surgical removal of part of the salivary glands,
• radiation therapy,
• Exercise therapy and facial massage are effective for neuralgia,
• Botox injections into the salivary glands to stop secretion for about six months.

Botox injections will help get rid of the problem for half a year.
Separately, you need to say a few words about hyposalivation, that is, a decrease in the functionality of the salivary glands, which causes the patient to experience dryness of the oral mucosa, problems with swallowing and speech function. This condition also has many potential prerequisites that can lead to abundant formation of plaque and stone, and minor trauma to soft tissues. In such a situation, you need to consult a doctor to determine the exact cause. Answering the question about how to increase salivation with dry mouth, experts advise making chewing movements more often, chewing food thoroughly and drinking more fluids. If a pathological condition is to blame, appropriate treatment will be required.

Help yourself

You need to start fighting the problem by finding out the cause and eliminating it. Therefore, you should not take medications or go for procedures without the knowledge of a specialist.

But if you are prone to this problem, then you can reconsider your diet .

It is recommended to limit foods that are high in sugar , as sweets tend to increase the amount of saliva produced.

Try to limit sugary drinks, sweets and baked goods, and dairy desserts. Avoiding acidic foods helps reduce salivation .

Hypersecretion is provoked by citrus fruits, sauerkraut, yoghurts, and products that contain vinegar.

When the functioning of the salivary glands returns to normal, familiar foods can be returned to the diet.

There are foods that cause dry mouth by helping to fight salivation. These are fiber foods: whole grain bread, whole oats, beans and other legumes.

You can rinse your mouth with chamomile decoction, oak bark infusion, and vegetable oils. Unsweetened tea or water with lemon juice helps.

You can rinse your mouth with shepherd's purse infusion, extract or tincture of water pepper, which are sold in pharmacies.

Which specialist should I contact for help?

If copious salivary secretions are washed off into the mouth, and the symptom does not go away during the day, you need to consult a specialist. The problem may well indicate some kind of internal disorder, so the sooner you react, the higher the chance of starting treatment on time, without waiting for complications to develop. In such a situation, you need to consult a dentist or therapist. After the initial examination and diagnosis, if necessary, the doctor will redirect you to a specialized specialist, for example, a gastroenterologist, parasitologist, etc.

Hypersalivation during sleep

The activity of the salivary glands is significantly reduced at night - during sleep. But, some people wake up with a wet pillow due to saliva flowing out. This happens because the glands enter the active phase before a person wakes up .
You should not pay attention to this in case of rare such embarrassments, since isolated cases are not considered a pathological deviation. But if this situation becomes regular, you need to consult a doctor to identify the etiology.

Chronic ENT diseases or deviated nasal septum

With these deviations, ptyalism is very often accompanied by snoring during sleep. Breathing through the nose is difficult, so the patient has to breathe through the mouth .

With this type of breathing, the lips do not close, and the accumulated liquid in the oral cavity flows out. Treatment requires eliminating existing breathing problems.

Malocclusion

Due to malocclusion, the dentition does not have tight contact everywhere, and during sleep such people may often experience profuse drooling. Upon awakening, a wet pillow is discovered.

In older people, during sleep, the muscles of the lower jaw are in a relaxed state, so their mouth is slightly open , and excess saliva flows out.

What does traditional medicine offer?

In some situations, when the source of the problem is not such a serious pathology, traditional medicine helps reduce the intensity of the salivary glands. Here we must immediately make a reservation that such recipes can only be used after consulting a doctor and making an accurate diagnosis. So, let's look at the most effective tips.

Quince decoction

The fruit must be thoroughly washed, then cut into small pieces and placed in a pan. Pour quince with a liter of water and put on fire, boil until about half of the liquid has evaporated. After this, you need to add 50 g of sugar to the pan and continue cooking until it is completely dissolved. The decoction should be filtered and taken orally in small portions throughout the day.

Quince is often used for treatment

Infusions from healing herbs

Take one tablespoon each of nettle, St. John's wort and serpentine rhizome, mix together and pour 600 ml of boiling water. Next, the mixture needs to be put in a dark place and left there for at least a couple of hours - the product needs to infuse. After this, the tincture must be filtered and then used as a mouth rinse, preferably every time before meals.

Water pepper tincture

You need to take the pharmaceutical composition of water pepper, namely one teaspoon of the ingredient. Pour the product into a glass of warm water and use it as a mouth rinse after each meal. The course lasts on average about 10 days.

Chamomile decoction

Take one tablespoon of dried chamomile flowers and pour 50 ml of boiling water. Place the resulting substance in a dark place and let it brew for at least 40 minutes. After this, the broth should be filtered and then used to rinse the mouth 3-4 times a day.

Chamomile decoction helps well in treatment

Consequences and complications

Complications of severe hypersalivation are:

• Rapidly developing dehydration of the body, accompanied by a violation of the acid-base state/electrolyte balance. Swallowing saliva in large volumes neutralizes gastric juice, reduces the bactericidal effect, and accelerates the process of evacuation of food from the stomach to the intestines, which can contribute to the rapid development of malabsorption syndrome .
• Inflammation and maceration of the skin and around the mouth.
• Flow of saliva into the respiratory tract, which is accompanied by the risk of infection by oral microflora.
• Night sleep disturbance.
• Impaired communication (speech problems).

Preventive measures

The manifestations of hypersalivation can be avoided if you take a responsible approach to the health of the oral cavity and the body as a whole. It is important to pay attention to the prevention of diseases that can lead to excess secretion of the salivary glands. First of all, you need to ensure high-quality oral hygiene, regularly visit the dentist’s office for preventive examinations, eat right and lead a healthy lifestyle. If signs of infectious infection, diseases of the teeth and gums, or disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract are detected, you should urgently contact an appropriate specialist.

1. Leontiev V.K. Changes in the structural properties of saliva with changes in pH, 1999.

Prevention

Prevention comes down to treating the underlying disease that causes drooling. Individual recommendations for the prevention of existing unexpressed salivation include:

• Regular rinsing of the mouth with astringent solutions (sage solution, oak bark).
• Correction of the diet (reducing the intake of spicy, salty, smoked foods, foods containing extractive substances).
• To give up smoking.
• Regular oral examination by a dentist.
• Avoiding stressful situations.

To prevent inflammation/maceration of the skin around the mouth, use special wet wipes and nourishing/moisturizing creams.

List of sources

• Chesnokova N.P., Ponukalina E.V., Bizenkova M.N. Pathophysiology of oral digestion. Mechanisms of development of hypersalivation // Scientific review. Abstract journal. – 2021. – No. 1. – P. 96-98
• Denisov A.B. Saliva and salivary glands // Moscow. – Publisher: Publishing House of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences. – 2006. – 372 p.
• Elendo M.B., Lomiashvili L.M., Vasilyeva N.A. Features of daily dynamics of biochemical parameters of oral fluid of PC users // Ural Medical Journal. – 2013. – No. 5 (110). – P. 46–50.
• Belskaya L.V., Sarf E.A., Kosenok V.K. Biochemistry of saliva: research methods. // Omsk: Omskblankizdat. – 2015. – 70 p.
• Neurology: National Guide / ed. Guseva E.I. - 2009.

Treatment

It is selected based on the medical history and consists of eliminating the root cause of the disease. If hypersalivation is associated with gastritis, then to eliminate dyspeptic symptoms, drugs are prescribed that increase the acidity of gastric juice.

The dentist will use antiseptic solutions. In his case, dental problems will be detected with a change in the microflora of the oral cavity towards intensive proliferation of bacteria in soft deposits on the teeth. And these soft deposits in the near future will not only cause the formation of tartar, but will also aggravate the existing hypersalivation.

Standard Actions

1. Use anticholinergics - drugs that reduce the secretory activity of the salivary glands.
2. For adults, it is possible to use biofeedback therapy if the importance of auto-training can be conveyed to the patient.
3. As a radical remedy, surgery can be used to remove the most active and large glands.
4. Cryotherapy as a type of surgical intervention. Only instead of a scalpel, extremely low temperatures inherent in liquid nitrogen are used.
5. Radiotherapy with irradiation with a directed narrow beam of gamma radiation, suppressing the activity of the salivary gland selected for this.
6. Injection of botulinum toxin into the parotid glands. This allows you to block their activities for 6-8 months.

Treatment of pregnant women

Radical methods with them are unacceptable, therefore palliative methods of influencing the salivary glands are used:

• Small doses of atropine to suppress salivary secretion.
• Exclusion from the diet of foods high in starch or acids - even such beneficial ones as ascorbic acid.
• Constant use of mouthwashes with menthol or sage infusions.

Any treatment method may have contraindications or cause side effects. There have been cases when, in order to get rid of the causes and symptoms of this disease, it was enough for the patient to change the diet, excluding from it substances that irritate some body systems or, conversely, introducing them into the menu.

Sometimes increased physical activity helped get rid of excessive salivation syndrome. And sometimes - an exception from the list of habits of caffeine, alcohol and smoking.

Folk remedies for treating hypersalivation

In mild cases, hypersalivation can be treated with folk remedies:

• Decoctions of water pepper and fruits with Shepherd's purse seeds. Used for intensive mouth rinsing.
• Decoctions of viburnum berries, without added sugar.
• Lemon. The slices are chewed along with the zest, the essential oils of which also have a beneficial effect on possible lesions in the mouth.
• Chamomile – both ordinary meadow chamomile and pharmaceutical chamomile. Pharmacy, due to its greater activity, is used in decoctions of lower concentrations.

Doctors do not recommend using folk remedies without consulting them, since the patient may not know the full picture without a detailed medical examination. Such treatment methods can only be effective in combination with medications, serving as a supporting and mitigating factor.