Foamy, viscous and stringy saliva in the mouth - causes and treatment

Consistency is one of the characteristics of salivary fluid in the mouth, which few people think about for no reason. Most often, a person learns that it can change when the metabolism in his body is disrupted. However, saliva in the mouth can become viscous and sticky for a variety of reasons, and the treatment of the defect directly depends on what exactly was the prerequisite for its development.

Causes of thick saliva

Saliva may become thick for the following reasons:

• Sinusitis. Chronic sinus disease makes itself felt by thick mucus and bad breath. The mucus produced by the sinuses continuously moves from the mouth to the throat. The nasal cavity swells and saliva thickens. Patients make efforts to clear the throat of sticky mucus and then spit out the clot. The chronic form of the disease is complicated by headache and, less commonly, fever. If you suspect sinusitis, you should immediately make an appointment with an otolaryngologist.
• Xerostomia. Sudden disruption of the salivary glands, complicated by severe dryness. The saliva becomes very viscous. The surface of the tongue thickens, the functioning of the receptors is disrupted, and there is a burning sensation in the mouth. Sometimes the throat feels sore and sore.
• Fungal candidiasis. An infectious disease that develops due to impaired immune function after long-term use of antibiotics and corticosteroids. It can also be triggered by contact routes of infection and personal hygiene items. Candidiasis can be a symptom of much more serious diseases: diabetes, tuberculosis, AIDS. With thrush, you may experience a metallic taste in the mouth, difficulty swallowing food, itching and burning of the mucous membranes.
• Sore throat, pharyngitis, laryngitis. Diseases affect the tonsil area. Infection causes the formation of purulent blisters, and their spontaneous rupture creates discomfort in the mouth. The inflammatory process is accompanied by elevated temperature, which deprives the body of water and inhibits the function of the salivary glands.
• Periodontitis and periodontal disease. Due to damaged gum tissue, the amount of saliva produced decreases. Elements of epithelial tissue penetrate the salivary fluid, which makes it viscous and white.
• Infectious diseases of an acute nature: dysentery, typhoid fever, hepatitis.
• Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). With this pathology, gastric juice rises into the oral cavity. In this case, additional saliva production is necessary to neutralize stomach acid.
• Endocrine disruptions. Changes in hormonal levels occur during pregnancy, puberty and menopause. These reasons can also cause thick saliva.
• Autoimmune diseases. A serious disease that is practically untreatable. Pathology manifests itself in damage to the exocrine glands, including the salivary glands.
• Dehydration. Water is the main component of saliva. A lack of fluid in the human diet leads to an increase in saliva viscosity. A person needs 1.5–2 liters of water per day to avoid dehydration. This is the minimum dose that ensures the proper functioning of all body systems.
• Dry air. Often saliva becomes foamy and viscous due to the negative effects of dry air on the respiratory system. In a poorly ventilated room, where air humidity does not meet standards, the oral mucosa instantly dries out. As the mucus thickens, it forms crusts around the perimeter of the inside of the throat, which is manifested by soreness and a dry cough. Thus, air masses, moving along the respiratory tract, receive the necessary moisture due to the moisture of the mucous membranes. The mouth and throat are not responsible for humidifying the air. The nasal cavity is intended for this purpose, in which a special muconasal secretion is produced. When a person cannot breathe normally through his nose, he uses his mouth to do this, so the saliva immediately begins to thicken.
• Smoking. Tobacco smoke causes irritation of the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract, and an increase in the volume of mucus occurs. Many smokers complain of the feeling of a foreign object in their throat.
• Action of allergens. Thick saliva observed in certain months indicates a seasonal allergy to pollen.
• Taking medications. There are categories of medications that cause such side effects as thickening of saliva. These can be hormonal pills, antidepressants and antihistamines.
• Diabetes. Dry oral mucosa and thick saliva are often observed against the background of hyperglycemic conditions.

In addition to a sharp reduction in the volume of secreted saliva and, as a result, an increase in viscosity, patients may experience additional symptoms:

• Impaired taste perception
• Sore throat
• Foul odor from the mouth
• Cracks on the lips and corners of the mouth, dry mucous membranes
• Burning sensation in the palate and tongue
• Hardening of the muscle fibers of the tongue

Salivation

Drooling can occur both with increased and normal secretion of the salivary glands; in this case, depending on the preferential activation of parasympathetic or sympathetic mechanisms, the secretion of liquid or thick saliva occurs, respectively. The following are the most well-known forms of drooling.

Psychogenic hypersalivation

Rarely observed. It occurs for no apparent reason, and there are no signs of organic damage to the nervous system. Drooling is sometimes dramatic; the patient is forced to carry a jar with him to collect saliva. Psychoanamnesis, demonstrative features in the presentation of a symptom, and its combination with other functional neurological manifestations or stigmas are important.

Drug hypersalivation

Most drugs that affect salivation cause mild to moderate xerotomy. At the same time, taking some medications may be accompanied by side effects such as drooling. A similar effect has been described when taking lithium, nitrazepam, an anticonvulsant used to treat various forms of epilepsy. In the latter case, drooling develops as a result of a violation of the reflex function of swallowing. Discontinuation or reduction of the drug dose usually eliminates drug-induced hypersalivation.

Hypersalivation in parkinsonism

The most common form of hypersalivation, often combined with other autonomic disorders characteristic of parkinsonism (seborrhea, lacrimation), may be one of the early manifestations of the disease. Sialorrhea in parkinsonism is most pronounced at night and in the supine position. As a rule, taking antiparkinsonian drugs (especially anticholinergics) reduces drooling.

Drooling with bulbar and pseudobulbar syndrome

With bulbar and pseudobulbar syndrome of various etiologies (tumors, syringobulbia, poliomyelitis, vascular pathology, degenerative diseases), salivation may be observed, the degree of which depends on the severity of bulbar disorders. Salivation can be profuse (up to 600-900 ml/day); saliva is thick. Patients are forced to hold a handkerchief or towel to their mouth. Most authors explain sialorrhea by a violation of the reflex act of swallowing, as a result of which saliva accumulates in the oral cavity, although irritation of the salivary center is also possible.

Drooling in patients with cerebral palsy

Associated with oral muscle incoordination and difficulty swallowing saliva; Often it significantly complicates the life of patients.

Hypersalivation in somatic pathology

Increased secretion of saliva is observed with ulcerative stomatitis, helminthic infestation, and toxicosis of pregnant women.

Treatment of viscous, stringy saliva with drugs from the pharmacy

Viscous saliva is a symptom of the disease, which is taken into account when making a diagnosis. Depending on the disease that worries the person, the drug is prescribed. Effective therapy is a set of measures aimed at eliminating the underlying problem. If it is necessary to relieve irritation in the mouth and pharynx, and also to thin saliva, the following medications are taken:

1. Reflex action - they act on nerve endings, provoking the production of saliva. After taking the medications, patients note that the cough caused by irritation of the throat goes away, and the sputum ceases to be thick. Medicines with this effect include Alteyka, Stoptussin and Thermopsol.
2. Mucolytic - they dilute sputum, but do not increase it quantitatively. In the prescription of therapists you can see Ambroxol, Mucaltin or Linex.
3. Resorptive medications - reduce viscosity by increasing the amount. The drugs should not be given to children under 7 years of age.

Drug therapy is combined with procedures that can reduce saliva viscosity:

• rubbing;
• rinsing;
• compresses;
• inhalation.

These actions should be carried out only after communicating with the doctor. The specialist will give useful recommendations and protect you from mistakes. For example, inhalation is prohibited if the patient has a high temperature. Rubbing is done only before bedtime, and active ointments should not be applied to the area near the heart.

Treatment of mucus in the throat

If you observe the above symptoms, you need to consult an otolaryngologist and determine the cause of the accumulation of viscous mucus in the throat.

After establishing the cause, the doctor will prescribe effective drug treatment aimed at removing mucus and eliminating chronic infection or inflammatory processes in the ENT organs. In case of an allergic reaction of the body, consultation with an allergist is necessary.

In any case, treatment of the nasopharynx for mucus should be comprehensive, since the mucous substance secreted by the mucous membrane of the ENT organs is only a consequence, not a disease.

Diagnosis and which doctor to contact

Initially, the child should be taken to a pediatrician, who will examine him, assess his symptoms, condition and refer him for tests or to a specialist.

• gastroenterologist – liver and gastrointestinal diseases;
• dentist – diseases of gums and teeth;
• neurologist, psychiatrist – mental disorders;
• endocrinologist – diabetes and hypothyroidism;

A pediatrician can also treat helminthiasis. In some cases, the participation of an immunologist and gastroenterologist may be necessary.

The doctor may prescribe the following diagnostic methods:

• general and biochemical blood tests;
• Ultrasound of the liver, gallbladder, pelvic organs, thyroid gland;
• gastroscopy;
• cholecystography;
• MRI of the stomach;
• analysis of feces and blood for helminths;
• duodenal intubation;
• blood test for antibodies to the hepatitis virus to confirm infection;
• coagulogram.

Causes not related to diseases

Sticky saliva in the mouth, dryness and discomfort occur as a result of other factors. You can simply avoid or eliminate them at home (or wait a while for the body to recover on its own). Here are the most common reasons:

• dehydration - often appears after physical activity, in the hot season, after too much sleep;
• dry air – due to excessive operation of the heating system, dry mucous membranes develop;
• radiation therapy - changes in saliva occur with large doses of radiation or when treating the throat;
• alcohol abuse and smoking - lead to dehydration, problems with the secretion of all internal glands;
• Drug treatment that thickens saliva is a common side effect of many nasal drops, syrups, hormonal tablets and ointments.

Saliva becomes viscous during certain physiological processes and pathologies.

Candidal stomatitis

The causes of candidal stomatitis are:

• decreased immunity;
• xerostomia;
• pregnancy;
• diabetes;
• changes in hormonal levels;
• bacterial inflammation in the body;
• violation of oral hygiene rules;
• taking antibiotics.

The disease can be diagnosed by symptoms such as sore throat, viscosity of saliva, unpleasant metallic taste in the mouth, white coating, burning sensation on the tongue. Most often, candidal stomatitis appears due to a decrease in the strength of the immune system.

Paradontosis

With periodontal disease, sticky saliva may appear. Damage to the tissues near the teeth is accompanied by pain, fever and other symptoms, and this also affects the consistency of the salivary fluid, it becomes viscous and sticky. In patients with this pathology, chewing function is impaired and the gums begin to bleed.

If periodontosis is not treated, the process penetrates into deep tissues, which can cause inflammation. The resulting plaque and tartar cause loosening and tooth loss.

The disease is accompanied by mobility of teeth, itching and discomfort in the gums

Treatment and research of diseases

When examining thick saliva, a doctor can use various methods, including: sialometry, sialography, scintigraphy of the salivary glands, sialochemical and microbiological studies, lip biopsy. Such studies are carried out by experienced dentists, and the possibility of systemic causes should be considered by general practitioners or family doctors. In order to exclude the underlying disease that caused the dysfunction of the salivary gland, you should stimulate the secretion of saliva, use its substitutes, or simply regularly moisten the oral cavity. Doctors also advise the use of certain drugs that should be available only with a prescription.

If you notice thick saliva coming out of your mouth, then such a symptom most likely indicates the development of an internal disease. Try to contact your doctor as soon as possible so that he can make a diagnosis.

Human saliva consists of more than 98% water. The remainder is represented by various salts, trace elements, enzymes and protein compounds. Enzymes such as amylase and maltase ensure the breakdown of complex sugars immediately after food intake. Lysozyme has bacterial properties and prevents the proliferation of bacteria. Why does saliva sometimes look like foam? Thanks to the presence of mucin.

It forms a food bolus and envelops it. Thanks to this process, food is easily swallowed and moves into the esophagus. Thus, thick saliva is a necessary condition for the successful start of the digestive process.

The autonomic part of the nervous system is responsible for the amount of saliva secreted, therefore during sleep or anesthesia its production is noticeably reduced, and when exposed to smell or taste it increases.

The reasons why saliva becomes excessively thick and white are varied. They are associated with the action of various irritants present in the oral cavity, as well as with the activation of the sympathetic nervous system. Treatment will largely be determined by the underlying disease.

General information

The basis of salivary fluid is 95% water, the remainder is represented by a multicomponent complex of enzymes, proteins, trace elements and acidic salt residues.

A special role in the composition is played by the organic enzymes maltase and amylase, which contribute to the breakdown of pieces of food immediately after it enters the digestive system. The enzyme lysozyme controls the normal balance of microflora, and mucin, which produces foamy saliva, envelops the food bolus for successful digestion in the future.

Saliva plays an important role in digestion.
Thanks to the last component, food moves smoothly down the esophagus into the stomach, where it is processed into small components. Thus, the thickness of saliva should be sufficient for the normal functioning of the digestion process.

Reasons why saliva in the mouth is very thick

In a healthy person, saliva is a clear, slightly cloudy, odorless liquid that does not cause irritation. Any deviations from the norm act as evidence of dysfunction of any organs or systems. Why an adult’s saliva thickens, foam or even blood comes out of the mouth - the reasons can be different - from banal dehydration to serious pathological conditions.

Xerotomia is one of the most common reasons for thick drool. It is accompanied by severe dryness of the oral cavity, a burning sensation may be present (some patients complain that saliva “pinches” the tongue), and sometimes there is soreness and pain in the throat. It appears as a result of the development of pathologies.

READ ALSO: Why does an adult drool a lot during sleep?

Disorders of the salivary glands

In the morning, very thick drool or foamy mucus appears in the mouth and lips, which also stings the tongue - often the reason lies in the disruption of the corresponding glands (we recommend reading: why the tongue is red and stings: how to treat it?). When a person’s salivation process is impaired, dry mouth, lips and mucus will be constantly present (we recommend reading: dry mouth: causes and remedies). One of the following reasons can lead to this condition:

READ ALSO: reasons why a yellowish coating occurs on the tongue

Dehydration

Dehydration is the second most common cause of thick saliva. It results from insufficient fluid intake and excessive sweating. Intoxication of the body has a similar effect. Heavy smokers often face this problem. If the only symptom is thick saliva, then we are talking about dehydration.

READ ALSO: other causes of viscosity in the mouth

Other causes of sticky and stringy saliva

Sticky and viscous salivary fluid with a viscous consistency can be a symptom of a number of pathological and natural conditions of the body. Women often encounter this phenomenon during pregnancy - due to an imbalance of microelements, water-salt imbalance, frequent urination, gestosis or hyperhidrosis. Changes in saliva viscosity can be caused by:

Prevention

To avoid problems such as increased viscosity of saliva, it is recommended to drink at least 2 liters of liquid per day, with preference given to purified water. It is better to limit the intake of carbonated, caffeinated drinks (they dehydrate the body). Quitting alcoholic beverages and smoking also has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the salivary glands.

Important! Excessive consumption of cheese and milk causes additional mucus production; it is recommended to reduce the amount of these products in the diet. It is useful to rinse your mouth with a warm saline solution from time to time, avoid hypothermia and stress, do not buy sugar-containing chewing gum, and humidify the air in the room.

A well-structured balanced diet with plenty of fiber (vegetables, fruits) and cereals is the best prevention of any problems with the digestive organs, including the salivary glands

It is useful to rinse your mouth with a warm saline solution from time to time, avoid hypothermia and stress, do not buy sugar-containing chewing gum, and humidify the air in the room. A well-structured, balanced diet with plenty of fiber (vegetables, fruits) and cereals is the best prevention of any problems with the digestive organs, including the salivary glands.

So, foamy, sticky and viscous saliva is a signal notifying about certain problems in the body. The cause of the anomaly may lie in a malfunction of the salivary glands themselves, hormonal or metabolic disorders, bad habits or chronic diseases (“the respiratory organs, gastrointestinal tract, and oral cavity suffer”). A dentist will help determine the cause of the problem and select the appropriate treatment, who, if necessary, will involve other specialists (immunologist, neurologist, gastroenterologist, etc.).

Preventive measures

Daily preventive measures will reduce the risk of thick saliva. should be followed:

• Drink enough liquid. Give preference to clean drinking water that has not undergone heat treatment. Non-carbonated mineral waters are welcome. If you add papaya juice to a glass, you can thin your saliva, since this fruit contains proteolytic enzymes.
• Get rid of bad habits. Alcohol and tobacco have a detrimental effect on saliva.
• Limit intake of caffeinated and carbonated drinks that dehydrate the body.
• Don't indulge in dairy products. Excessive consumption of milk and cheese creates soil for the formation of excess mucus. It is useful to drink yogurt, as it normalizes the microflora of the oral cavity.
• Regularly rinsing your mouth with a warm saline solution will remove mucus and make saliva less viscous. Do not rinse your mouth with alcohol-based solutions.
• Avoid overcooling the body
• Dentists recommend using sugar-free chewing gum
• Several times a week it is useful to breathe over a pan of hot water or boiled potatoes.
• Include fresh vegetables and fruits, as well as grains, in your food diet. Proper nutrition is the key to high-quality salivary fluid.
• To humidify the air in the bedroom, it is recommended to purchase a humidifier.

Source: stoma.guru

Primary 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.

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 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.

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.

Sometimes this condition is observed in cases of disturbances in the functioning of the stomach. 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.

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.

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.

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 children, this problem often occurs during teething.

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

Saliva is constantly produced by special glands. The therapeutic norm is the production of liquid in the amount of 2 ml in approximately ten minutes. Increased salivation in adults can only be alarming when volumes exceed the 5 ml mark. In this case, there is too much liquid in the mouth, so there is a reflexive desire to swallow it.

The same sensations, not justified by dysfunction of the glands in the oral cavity, can occur in patients suffering not from neurological or dental problems, but susceptible to so-called obsessive states.

Quite rarely, hypersalivation is accompanied by a change in taste sensations (too strong or weak sensitivity). Some patients experience increased salivation and nausea at the same time.

Brief physiology of salivation and pathogenesis of its disorders

The participation of sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation in the regulation of salivation varies; the leading role belongs to parasympathetic mechanisms. Segmental parasympathetic innervation is represented in the trunk by secretory salivary nuclei (n.
salivate rius sup. et inf.).
From the brain stem, parasympathetic fibers go as part of the VII and IX glossopharyngeal nerve, synaptically interrupting in the submandibular and auricular ganglion, respectively. The submandibular and sublingual salivary glands receive postganglionic fibers from the submandibular ganglion, and the parotid glands receive postganglionic fibers from the auricular ganglion. Sympathetic postganglionic fibers come from the superior cervical ganglion and end in the vessels and secretory cells of the submandibular salivary glands only.

The sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation of the salivary glands does not have a reciprocal relationship, that is, peripheral sympathetic activation does not cause peripheral suppression of secretion. Any suppression of secretion, for example during stress, is mediated by central inhibitory influences by reducing the activation of efferent pathways. Afferent fibers are part of the nerves innervating the masticatory muscles and taste fibers. Normally, reflex secretion of saliva occurs when parasympathetic impulses predominate, which causes increased salivary secretion and vasodilation as part of the secretory process. The mediators at the endings of the parasympathetic nerves are acetylcholine, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and substance P. The effect of sympathetic activation is carried out through the mediator norepinephrine, while fluid mobilization does not occur, but the protein composition of saliva changes by increasing exocytosis from certain cells. Sympathetic fibers terminate mainly in those cells that receive parasympathetic innervation, which provides a synergistic effect. Although some sympathetic fibers regulate vascular tone, it is largely dependent on independent central control and is not directly involved in reflex secretory mechanisms.

The reflex activity of the salivary glands can change if any part of the reflex is disrupted (afferent, central or efferent parts), as well as if the effector organ is damaged.

Insufficient afferentation from the masticatory muscles explains xerostomia in old age and that occurs with a long-term gentle diet. In severe cases, atrophy of the salivary glands is possible.

Reflex salivation is under complex control of higher parts of the brain, the influence of which is realized, in particular, in changes in saliva secretion depending on the functional state of the brain in the sleep-wake cycle. An example of suprasegmental effects on salivary function can also be psychogenic hypo- and hypersalivation, unilateral suppression of secretion in hemispheric tumors, the central effect of antihypertensive drugs, anorexigenic drugs.

Damage to the efferent autonomic pathways explains xerostomia in the syndrome of progressive autonomic failure; Similarly, dry mouth is caused by pharmacological denervation with anticholinergics. Damage to the effector organ, i.e., the salivary glands, is responsible for dry mouth in Sjogren's syndrome and post-radiation xerostomia. Dry mouth in diabetes mellitus is associated with a decrease in the secretion of the liquid part of saliva due to plasma hyperosmolarity, as well as due to polyuria.

Drooling is possible not only when saliva secretion increases, but also when its normal outflow is disrupted. Thus, incoordination of the oral muscles causes drooling in children with cerebral palsy; subclinical swallowing disorders due to increased tone of the aximal muscles can lead to sialorrhea in parkinsonism (in this disease, however, another mechanism is possible - activation of central cholinergic mechanisms); in patients with boulevard syndrome, salivation is caused by a violation of the reflex act of swallowing.

Treatment

After the specialist explains to the patient why the tip of the tongue hurts, what it is and how to treat it, it is allowed to proceed directly to therapy. Relieving the symptoms of the underlying disease will help relieve pain. Medications and folk remedies will come to the rescue.

Medication

Drug therapy is aimed at quickly eliminating the symptoms of the underlying disease and alleviating pain.

The standard regimen involves the use of the following drugs:

1. Antibacterial agents are used in most cases. They help destroy pathogenic microorganisms and prevent the spread of the inflammatory process in many diseases. The most commonly prescribed tablets are: Ciprofloxacin, Augmentin, Azitral. The duration of treatment depends on the degree of neglect of the condition, usually 14 days is enough.
2. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs help relieve pain and inhibit the development of inflammation. Popular drugs from the group: Nimesulide, Ketorol, Nimesil. It is recommended to take no longer than 5 days in a row in order to prevent negative reactions from the digestive system.
3. Antihistamines are indicated in case of allergic etiology of pain syndrome. It is allowed to take Tavegil, Zodak, Claritin. The duration of treatment is 10 days.
4. Antifungal medications are used in case of a fungal infection: Ketonazole, Nystatin. Prescribed in long courses of 3-6 weeks.
5. Local anesthetics, for example, a spray with lidocaine solution, help relieve acute pain and alleviate the general condition.
6. Means to accelerate the regeneration of the mucous membrane are indicated in the case of concomitant gum pathologies, accompanied by the formation of ulcers, cracks, and mechanical damage. A popular effective remedy is Solcoseryl gel. Among natural remedies, sea buckthorn oil is in particular demand. The products are used topically to treat affected areas.
7. Antiseptic solutions: Chlorophyllipt, Chlorhexidine. Used to disinfect the oral cavity and prevent the spread of infection. Used for rinsing several times a day for 10-14 days.

Additionally, sedative medications (Barboval, Afobazol), vitamin complexes (Complivit, Vitrum, Supradin) are used to strengthen the immune system and prevent complications.

Folk

Alternative medicine recipes will help relieve pain, can be used at home, and rarely provoke an allergic reaction.

Effective recipes would be the following:

1. Baking soda and salt are actively used for rinsing the mouth to remove plaque and microbes from the surface of the tongue. For a glass of warm water you will need 5 grams of each ingredient. After dissolution, you are allowed to begin the procedure. Repeat rinsing at least 2 times a day for 10 days.
2. Chamomile decoction has a powerful anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and regenerating effect. With daily rinsing, it eliminates acute symptoms and speeds up the healing process. It’s easy to prepare the decoction: separate 20 grams of raw materials, cook in 300 ml of water for 3 minutes, leave for 30 minutes, filter. Use a warm decoction twice a day.
3. Honey water will help ease pain and relieve inflammation. To prepare, you will need a tablespoon of bee product and a glass of warm water. After the honey has dissolved, you can start rinsing. Repeat 2 times a day for 2 weeks.
4. Aloe juice is useful for treating the tongue, mucous membranes, and gums when an infection occurs. Juice can be obtained from crushed leaves of the plant by squeezing them through cheesecloth. Treat the affected areas with the resulting product using a cotton swab 3 times a day for 2 weeks.
5. Hydrogen peroxide 3% can be used for applications on the tongue and gums. Dilute the product with water at a ratio of 1:1, moisten gauze or a cotton pad, and apply to the area of ​​inflammation for 10 minutes. Repeat the manipulation daily until improvement occurs.

It is not recommended to use folk remedies as an independent, main method of therapy in the presence of pronounced clinical manifestations. At the appointment, the specialist will be able to determine the feasibility of using unconventional methods.

Determination of viscosity degree

An increased level of salivary fluid viscosity can be determined based on subjective sensations.
But in order to confirm the diagnosis, you should undergo a laboratory examination. For this purpose, a viscometer is used. At home, you can use a micropipette. Algorithm of actions:

1. First, take 1 ml of water into the pipette, hold it in a vertical position, and monitor the amount of liquid that flows out of the pipette in 10 seconds. The procedure is repeated 3 times and the results are recorded.
2. The average volume of leaked water is calculated: all results are summed and the resulting number is divided by 3.
3. After this, you should carry out the same procedure with salivary fluid. The secretion is collected in the morning on an empty stomach. The average volume of saliva flowed out is determined using the formula described above.
4. At the end, the ratio of the average volume of water poured out to the average volume of saliva flowed out is calculated. This number will be an indicator of the degree of viscosity.

With a normal indicator, the viscosity level number varies between 1.5-4 cp (in the case of using distilled water).

Viscous saliva: folk therapy to help

For several decades there has not been such an assortment of pharmaceutical products. I had to use improvised raw materials for treatment. Some methods are still relevant today. Here are recipes that you can use if the saliva in your mouth is too thick:

1. Agave juice or using plant pulp. Aloe has long been considered an effective product for the treatment of coughs that produce thick sputum. For therapy, you need to take the pulp and grind it with honey. Or you can simply squeeze out the juice and drop it into the nasal cavity.
2. Calendula decoction with honey. A preparation is prepared from fresh petals of the plant; they must be poured with boiling water. After infusion, the tincture is mixed with honey. The drink can be drunk after meals.
3. Sea salt rinse.
4. Radish juice with honey is an effective recipe when there is no relief from too thick phlegm.
5. Inhalation using potatoes. The vegetable is boiled in its peel, the patient is seated in front of a pan with root vegetables. It is necessary to inhale the vapors, preferably under a blanket.
6. A decoction of chamomile with honey is an excellent option when you need to get rid of phlegm clots and boost immunity.
7. Milk with honey or butter. The procedure is carried out before bedtime. It is enough to drink one glass of warm milk with additional ingredients.

When choosing traditional therapy for the treatment of viscous sputum, you should pay attention to the composition of medicinal decoctions and drinks. Honey is a strong allergen, so it should not be given to people who have a negative reaction when in contact with bees and bee products.

You cannot resort to “grandmother’s” methods without consulting a doctor. There are pathologies that cannot be cured without pharmaceutical drugs.

Sometimes hospitalization is required, and self-medication only makes the situation worse

Therapy should be carried out especially carefully in young patients. Children's bodies are sensitive to any disease

Illiterate therapy can provoke chronic health problems.