Excessive salivation: what is it and what to do about it

Normal salivation is one of the important points that indicates a healthy oral cavity and the absence of diseases such as hypersalivation and xerostomia. If a patient has excessive dry mouth or insufficient salivation, this condition is called xerostomia. Also, as a result of certain diseases, patients may experience increased salivation, which occurs as a result of increased secretion of the salivary glands. This phenomenon is called hypersalivation.

In the human body, saliva performs two functions:

• Digestive. During the digestion process, the salivary glands produce additional saliva, which is called extra saliva. The production of additional saliva is influenced by factors such as the type of food and odors. With the help of stimulated saliva, food is broken down, and food lumps of small sizes convenient for consumption are formed. The normal functioning of such processes affects the health of the gastrointestinal tract and human digestive system.
• Protective. The oral cavity produces not only stimulated saliva, but also the required amount of saliva that has protective functions. Various microorganisms, exfoliated epithelium and food debris are constantly present in the oral cavity. Protective saliva helps to wash the mouth and teeth, as a result of which the mucous membrane is softened, bacteria are washed away and the oral cavity is directly disinfected. Protective saliva also helps balance temperature changes that occur when eating different foods (too hot or cold).

Due to insufficient saliva production, difficulties may occur with swallowing and chewing food, as well as in speaking. If there is not enough saliva in the oral cavity, large amounts of plaque accumulate on the surface of the teeth, which often causes tissue demineralization leading to tooth decay.

What is hypersalivation?

As a type of physiological phenomenon, hypersalivation (increased secretion of the salivary glands) manifests itself in children aged 3 to 6 months. If excessive salivation is observed in older people, then such a symptom almost always indicates some kind of disease. Due to increased salivation, a person becomes restless, feels discomfort and discomfort. According to doctors, in most cases, patients experience drooling not due to increased secretion of the salivary glands, but due to disturbances in the swallowing reflex.

Among the main symptoms of this pathology is excessive salivation in the oral cavity, as a result of which a person is forced to constantly spit out excess saliva. The increase in salivation compared to the norm occurs approximately 2-3 times. As a rule, due to this phenomenon, the oral mucosa does not suffer in any way, but increased salivation is one of the important symptoms of infectious or neuralgic diseases.

Among the causes of increased salivation, the presence of acute inflammatory processes in the oral cavity is noted. In this situation, strong salivation acts as a positive protective reaction of the body, however, any inflammatory disease must be diagnosed and treated. Also among the reasons for this phenomenon:

• Epidemic encephalitis;
• Stomatitis;
• Stomach ulcer;
• Parkinson's disease;
• Disruption of normal blood circulation to the brain.

Among the causes of salivation in large quantities, toxicosis during pregnancy also stands out.

In order to eliminate unpleasant symptoms, it is necessary to identify and treat the infection that caused the increased work of the salivary glands.

What to do to reduce saliva production

To ensure that your visit to the dentist does not cause any unpleasant sensations, it is important to follow several rules before going to the clinic:

• The first thing you should do is brush your teeth with special care. Do not think that this requirement is purely aesthetic. This must be done for your own good: absolutely clean teeth, not covered with a thick layer of plaque, will “reveal” all problem areas to the dentist;
• The day before going to the doctor, do not drink alcohol. Also, you should refrain from eating food with strong odors;
• To reduce salivation, it is important to eat no later than 40 minutes before your scheduled visit to the doctor. During this time, the food will have time to be partially digested, which will reduce the likelihood of gag reflexes. Food is needed to prevent dizziness during pain relief. Snacking will reduce salivation (a hungry person salivates more).

But, even if these methods did not help and saliva is still released, do not worry: modern saliva ejectors, which every doctor has, neutralize the most “generous” secretion of this secretion

Category Miscellaneous Published by kosmetik-dent

What is xerostomia?

Pathology, the main symptom of which is dry mouth. The diagnosis of xerostomia is made by a doctor in the case of a decrease in salivation or a complete cessation of salivation. Dry mouth and pain affect about 50% of the population over the age of 60. This symptom is also typical for patients who suffer from various diseases.

Today, dry mouth can occur in patients suffering from various autoimmune diseases, as well as in the form of a similar effect in patients taking various medications. Xerostomia can be observed in patients who have problems with the endocrine system, suffering from anemia, diabetes, arthritis, hypertension. Dry mouth can occur after radiation therapy, as well as removal of the salivary glands as a result of surgery. In order to find out what disease caused dry mouth, you will have to be examined by a specialist.

Despite the fact that xerostomia is also a symptom, it can also be intensified by additional symptoms, which leading dentists in Orenburg include the following:

• Viscous saliva and frequent thirst.
• Tingling, itching, burning sensation of the tongue (dryness and redness).
• Formation of wounds at the corners of the lips and in the oral cavity.
• Having problems swallowing saliva.
• The occurrence of disturbances with the sense of taste.
• Speech problems and bad breath.
• Problems with teeth and wearing dentures.

These are not all the symptoms of xerostomia, but they are the most common and common.

Causes of nausea

There are many reasons that cause nausea. To get rid of an unpleasant feeling, you need to find out and eliminate the source.

Factors that provoke nausea:

1. Food poisoning. A feeling of discomfort in the stomach appears several hours after eating, ending with vomiting, undigested food is excreted with vomit. The process is accompanied by high fever and diarrhea.
2. Toxicosis during pregnancy. Morning sickness in a woman is the first sign that indicates pregnancy. In the first trimester, hormonal levels change and malaise appears. The symptom goes away by the end of the first trimester. If it is not accompanied by excessive vomiting and deterioration of the body, then it does not harm either the expectant mother or the child.
3. Reaction to medications, vitamins. All medications have side effects, nausea is one of them. Individual intolerance to components can provoke it.
4. Alcohol in large doses. Causes poisoning of the body, the person becomes sick and ends with vomiting.
5. Head injuries. A severe head injury can cause a concussion. Dizziness and vomiting occur. Immediate medical attention is required, possibly hospitalization.
6. Menses. During menstruation, a hormonal imbalance occurs in the body. The woman feels anxiety, cramps and pain in the abdomen, and dizziness.
7. Violation of the vestibular apparatus. When changing body position, darkening of the eyes, noise in the ears, and deterioration of health may occur.
8. Diets. An unbalanced diet, an incorrectly selected diet disrupts the functioning of the digestive system, and a person receives insufficient amounts of vitamins and nutrients. There is a malfunction in the stomach.
9. Sunstroke.
10. Motion sickness in transport, seasickness.
11. Psychological disorders, stress. Disruption of the central nervous system causes various reactions in the body, including ailments.

Sudden nausea occurs in diseases: meningitis, appendicitis, gastritis, ulcerative colitis, oncology, inflammation of the gallbladder, cholelithiasis, peritonitis, etc.

Prevention of hypersalivation and xerostomia

For the most part, the prevention of increased salivation consists of taking measures aimed at preventing the following diseases:

• Clay infestations.
• Diseases of the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract.
• Cerebral circulation disorders and other pathologies that can cause hypersalivation.

In order to prevent a disease whose main symptom is dry mouth, if there are no general diseases, prevention comes down to removing the causes of excessive dryness. The main preventive measures include the following:

• Maintaining proper water balance in the body;
• Oral hygiene;
• Quitting bad habits (strong drinks and smoking);
• Special rinses using ingredients that increase moisture in the oral cavity.
• Taking medications that imitate the natural component composition of saliva (drugs based on hydroxyethylcellulose or carboxymethylcellulose are used to treat xerostomia).

Prevention of dry mouth involves avoiding or limiting the use of medications that cause the unpleasant symptom.

To determine the cause of increased salivation or dry mouth, you should make an appointment with an experienced dentist. Specialists from the leading dental clinic in Orenburg will be able to correctly diagnose the disease, as well as prescribe the correct treatment for dry mouth or excessive saliva production.

First aid for nausea

Painful sensations in the stomach disrupt the usual rhythm of life, you want to be free from discomfort. To help yourself deal with this, try these tips:

• Take a horizontal position - lying down, a person feels better, especially important for dizziness;
• Wash with cool water;
• It is worth limiting physical activity, it is advisable to maintain complete rest;
• Ventilate the room, fresh air will help improve your well-being;
• Rinse your mouth after vomiting;
• Eat healthy foods (fruits, vegetables, dietary meat);
• Eat often, in small portions, plenty of fluid intake is important (salty, spicy, iron-containing foods are not allowed);
• Drink a glass of water with lemon;
• Try to restore your breathing and relax;
• Turn on calm music, your favorite movie. It is important to calm the nervous system;
• Take antiemetics at night;
• If you have problems with stool, take prebiotics.

As soon as the nausea subsides, see your doctor to determine the cause. Pay close attention to changes in how you feel.

Treatment options

You should consult a doctor immediately if:

• Nausea remains for a long time for no apparent reason;
• There is uncontrollable vomiting, vomit with blood is released;
• A sharp deterioration in health;
• Severe diarrhea, black discharge;
• High body temperature, antipyretics do not help;
• Acute pain in the abdominal area;
• Loss of consciousness occurs;
• Frequent fainting;
• It becomes difficult to breathe;
• There are signs of dehydration.

These symptoms are life-threatening, whether it is an adult or a child. Urgent medical attention, hospitalization, prompt determination of the cause and treatment are needed.

Nausea is not a disease, but a symptom. Therefore, only after diagnosing the cause can treatment begin. Don't self-medicate! If there is an accompanying pathology, there is a risk of aggravating the situation. The doctor prescribes medications according to the diagnosis.

To eliminate the unpleasant symptom, antihistamines (Diphenhydramine, Tavegil, Suprastin), antispasmodics (No-shpa, Papaverine), neuroleptics (Aminazine), probiotics (Linex, Bifidumbacterin, Biogaya) are used.

The use of medications is permitted after consultation with your doctor. Treatment is selected individually.

Folk remedies

Healing plants will help with severe nausea. Medicinal herbs can improve well-being, reduce stomach cramps, normalize salivation, and reduce the urge to vomit.

• Ginger tea. Ginger stimulates the production of bile and helps digest fatty foods. You can add the crushed root of the plant to your food.
• Dill water. At home, dill seeds are steamed with boiling water, filtered, or you can buy a ready-made solution at the pharmacy. Drink in case of poisoning or gastrointestinal disorders.
• Peppermint. Mint leaves are added to tea, a decoction is made, which is infused for 2 hours. Take a tablespoon before meals. Mint helps relieve nausea, improves digestion, has a calming effect, and is used for stomach ulcers and cholecystitis.
• Lemon. Tea with a slice of lemon, acidified water with lemon juice normalizes the digestion process. Take at the first symptoms.
• Potato. Half a spoonful of raw potato juice for gagging. Helps coat the walls of the stomach, helps with toxicosis.
• Pumpkin juice helps with vomiting. You can use pumpkin decoction with lemon juice.
• Red rowan. Chop or grind the berries, take with sugar or honey, cope with an attack of nausea.
• Rose hip. Rosehip decoction tones the body and relieves spasms.
• Chamomile flowers. Medicinal chamomile has an anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, soothing and astringent effect. Steam the flowers with boiling water, let it brew for 2 hours, and strain. Take 3 times a day, 50 ml.

The use of traditional methods in treatment is recommended after consultation with a doctor. To achieve a positive effect, it is necessary to carry out complex therapy: drug treatment, traditional methods, proper nutrition and adherence to a daily routine. Stick to the prescribed treatment and get rid of nausea.