When people say “my mouth is watering,” they usually mean that something looks and smells delicious. Alas, for those who suffer from hypersalivation, this expression takes on a different, much less pleasant meaning. Increased salivation may indicate health problems. Hypersalivation is often a side effect of a particular disease. If you think your body is producing too much saliva, consult your dentist or physician.
Below is some general information about saliva to help you better understand what to do about excess saliva.
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.
Hypersalivation as a sign of another disease
Hypersalivation often develops secondary, against the background of another disease. If a woman feels pain in the throat, it is necessary to examine it for signs of tonsillitis
.
During the first day of the disease, the temperature may not rise, but dry mucous membranes appear, weakness and slight swelling of the tissues occur. On days 2-3, the throat turns red, and drooling may persist throughout the course of the pathology.
With disorders of the thyroid gland and some neurological pathologies, saliva flows from the mouth during a conversation. When the underlying disease is corrected, this symptom usually disappears. Digestive disorders almost always occur with moderate or increased hypersalivation
. Additional signs include heartburn, abdominal pain, and loss of appetite.
Infectious processes in the oral cavity can increase drooling
. In this case, hyperthermia is often observed, as well as signs of intoxication, which indicate the active reproduction of pathogens and the release of toxins.
If salivation is increased, you need to look for the causes of the disorder. This is the only way to solve this problem and avoid relapses.
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.
What types of problems do experts identify?
Dental experts identify 2 main forms of the symptom. So, hypersalivation can be of the following types:
- true - too intense fluid production is noted, and the phenomenon itself becomes a consequence of external or internal factors,
- 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.
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
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.
Causes of hypersalivation
Hyperfunction of the salivary glands is the main cause of excessive salivation in women.
But there are others that are also quite common:
- Taking certain medications, which requires dosage adjustment or discontinuation of the medication;
- Exacerbation of diseases of the stomach and intestines: often the cause of increased salivation in women lies in ordinary gastritis, which is accompanied by nausea, pain, heartburn;
- Worm infestations can increase the amount of saliva, while the woman feels overwhelmed, tired, suffers from drowsiness and may lose weight;
- Exacerbation of infectious diseases affecting mainly the ENT organs;
- The development of stomatitis, which not only increases the activity of the salivary glands, but is also accompanied by soreness of the mucous membrane, the formation of ulcers, and the appearance of a characteristic plaque.
Sometimes salivation is not a pathological manifestation, but only indicates that it is time to have a snack. Temporary hypersalivation appears in almost all people who are hungry.
One of the causes of hypersalivation is dental procedures.
accompanied by damage to the mucous membrane. In this case, there is a short-term increase in saliva production. Gum injuries can occur not only during dental treatment, but also when using dentures. During the period of adaptation to dentures, there is a lot of saliva in the mouth, but this will go away over time. Avoid damaging the mucous membrane, use special gels with regenerating and anti-inflammatory effects.
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.
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.
Treatment
Treatment is aimed at combating the underlying disease. The specialist must identify the reasons
and select effective therapy based on the information received. In some cases, the patient needs consultation from other specialized specialists.
To suppress the increased activity of the glands, special drugs are prescribed that reduce salivation. It must be remembered that such medications have one unpleasant side effect in the form of dry mucous membranes.
, against the background of which other diseases may develop and infection may occur. Saliva also performs protective functions, so it is necessary to take the remedy for increased salivation carefully, preferably in short courses.
In advanced cases, surgical removal of the salivary glands is performed.
. The operation is considered complex and is accompanied by the risk of damage to nerve endings and future problems such as facial asymmetry.
The treatment regimen for hypersalivation may include physical therapy, massage sessions, and folk remedies: rinsing the mouth with tinctures prepared from shepherd’s purse or viburnum berries. Sometimes the problem occurs due to the habit of rarely swallowing saliva. In this case, it is necessary to resolve the issue with the help of self-discipline.
Try to treat your teeth and gums on time
, as well as the digestive organs, the dysfunction of which often results in an excess of saliva. Hypersalivation is possible with an incorrect diet, which contains a lot of hot and sour foods, seasonings and spices. Review your eating habits if they are leading to this problem.
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.
How to reduce salivation before visiting the dentist
Sooner or later, everyone has to have their teeth treated. And the sooner a person gets into the dentist’s office, the more likely it is that he will come out with a snow-white smile and a mouth full of teeth. Modern dentistry offers many opportunities to preserve the health of a “living” tooth. High-tech equipment, the latest techniques and professionalism of doctors allow treatment without pain and discomfort. However, it is precisely the uncomfortable sensations that can be created by the human body itself: excessive salivation.
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
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.
- Leontiev V.K. Changes in the structural properties of saliva with changes in pH, 1999.
Why is saliva secreted?
The fact that saliva is secreted is an absolutely normal process that occurs in a healthy human body. Thus, it is normal for the glands to secrete 2 mg of saliva every 10 minutes. More abundant and frequent discharge of this secretion occurs either due to a “failure” of the body such as hypersalivation, or as a consequence of the body’s reaction to various conditioned stimuli. Even some smells may be like this. At the same time, saliva is released even without external influence, preventing drying of the oral mucosa.
