Increased salivation

Increased salivation can occur at the sight of food, during a meal - and this is natural. However, sometimes such a symptom can be associated with certain conditions of the body or even diseases. The process of secreting saliva is a necessary and important function of the salivary glands. Normally, about 1 ml of saliva should be secreted every 5 minutes, but sometimes much more is produced.

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Causes of increased salivation

Increased saliva production is most often observed when exposed to certain conditioned stimuli: smell, type of food. Normal salivation should also occur in the absence of any factors - this process is necessary to maintain the oral mucosa in a moist state, as well as for normal digestion.

When saliva is secreted in larger quantities than is sufficient, it is called increased secretion, or so-called hypersalivation. Several factors can contribute to the development of this condition:

• the use of certain medications, a side effect of which may be increased salivation;
• metabolic disorder;
• neurological diseases;
• acute poisoning or toxic infections;
• otolaryngological pathologies.

Sometimes increased saliva production can be observed in adolescence. This condition is not a pathology, it is simply a consequence of hormonal changes during puberty.

However, it has been proven that over time, salivary secretion gradually decreases in adult patients, since age-related changes can inhibit the functioning of the secretory glands.

Hypersalivation is common in people with dental problems, but after dental treatment, saliva flow usually returns to normal.

Increased saliva production is also observed in people who smoke a lot: salivation is provoked primarily by nicotine and tar, as well as tobacco smoke, which irritates the mucous membrane and receptors of the glands.

Increased salivation can be observed in pathologies of the digestive system (for example, with a stomach ulcer), with parasitic infestations, in women during pregnancy, with nervous diseases (brain cancer, ischemia, Parkinsonism, schizophrenia, etc.).

Symptoms of excessive salivation

Patients usually complain of increased excessive production of salivary fluid in the oral cavity, a reflex desire to constantly spit. During examination, an increase in the secretory function of the salivary glands is detected, more than 5 ml per 10 minutes (with the norm being 2 ml).

In some cases, increased salivation is associated with a disorder of the swallowing function due to inflammation in the oral cavity, tongue injury, and disorders of the innervation of the bulbar nerves. In this case, the amount of saliva is within normal limits, but patients experience a false sensation of excessive salivation. The same symptoms are characteristic of patients with obsessive states.

Sometimes increased salivation can be combined with a change in taste sensations, with a decrease, increase or distortion of taste sensitivity.

There may be various variants of increased salivation:

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Increased salivation at night

Normally, less salivary fluid should be produced during sleep than during wakefulness. But sometimes the salivary glands wake up earlier than a person: at such moments, we can observe the flow of salivary fluid in a sleeping person. If this does not happen often, there is no reason to worry. Often, the secretion of saliva at night is associated with the absence of nasal breathing (with colds, nasal congestion): after the patency of the nasal passages is restored, salivation from the mouth stops. Also, salivation at night can be associated with an incorrect bite, missing teeth: such problems are solved by visiting a dentist. When a person sleeps soundly enough, he may at some point lose control over his body, which manifests itself in the form of increased salivation.

Increased salivation and nausea

Such symptoms may manifest themselves in combination with pregnancy, damage to the vagus nerve, inflammation of the pancreas, gastritis and gastric ulcer. To clarify the cause, you should be examined by a specialist.

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Increased salivation after eating

Normally, salivation begins when eating and stops immediately after eating. If the meal is over and salivation does not stop, this may be a sign of helminthic invasion. Worms can affect almost any organ: the liver, lungs, intestines, heart and even the brain. Increased salivation after eating, appetite disorders, constant fatigue are the main initial signs of such a lesion. For a more accurate diagnosis, you need to visit a specialist.

Belching and increased salivation

Such symptoms are observed in diseases of the stomach (acute, chronic or erosive form of gastritis): in this case, belching can be both sour and bitter, occurring more often in the morning and combined with the release of a significant amount of salivary or mucous fluid. In diseases of the digestive system, which are associated with obstruction or poor patency of the food tract (spasms, tumors, esophagitis), increased salivation, a lump in the throat, difficulty swallowing can be observed. All these signs are quite serious and require consultation with a medical specialist.

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Increased salivation and sore throat

These signs may be symptoms of lacunar tonsillitis. The clinical picture, in addition to the listed signs, is characterized by an increase in temperature to 39 C, feverish state and general malaise, headache. In childhood, the disease may be accompanied by vomiting. Upon examination, swollen and reddened tonsils with areas of light plaque are observed, and cervical lymph nodes may be enlarged. Such tonsillitis lasts about a week and requires mandatory treatment.

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Increased salivation when talking

Such pathological secretion of saliva can be observed in case of disorder of coordination of oral muscles, which is manifested in cerebral palsy and some neurological diseases. Increased salivation can be provoked by hormonal imbalance, which can often be found in thyroid pathologies and other endocrine disorders, in particular, in diabetes mellitus.

Increased salivation in women

Women at the beginning of the climacteric period may also suffer from increased salivation, which appears along with increased sweating and blood flow. Experts associate this with hormonal changes in the body. Usually, such phenomena gradually pass, without requiring special treatment.

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Increased salivation during pregnancy

During pregnancy, manifestations of toxicosis can affect cerebral circulation, which provokes increased salivation. Heartburn and nausea can accompany this symptom. Vitamin deficiency and decreased immune protection also play a major role in the causes of salivation during pregnancy, which can be compensated for by prescribing vitamin complexes and maintaining a healthy diet.

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Increased salivation in a child

Drooling in children of the first year of life is a completely normal condition that does not require the use of therapeutic measures. Such children "drool" due to an unconditional reflex factor. Later, salivation can be observed during the period of teething: this is also not a pathological condition and does not require intervention. Older children should not "drool". If such a symptom appears, one can assume a brain injury or other pathology of the nervous system: it is necessary to show the child to a specialist.

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Increased salivation in infants

Infants may also suffer from increased salivation due to infection or some irritating substance getting into the oral cavity. Sometimes the amount of salivary fluid is within the normal range, but the baby does not swallow it: this happens with a sore throat or other reasons that disrupt or make swallowing difficult. Cerebral palsy is also considered a common cause of increased salivation in an infant.

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Diagnosis of increased salivation

What is the diagnosis of increased salivation?

• Collection of complaints (anamnesis) – duration of signs of salivation, presence of other symptoms.
• Life history – heredity, presence of bad habits, chronic pathologies, professional activity.
• Examination – the condition of the oral mucosa and the absence of damage to the tongue and palate are checked.
• A functional analysis that allows one to determine the amount of salivary fluid secreted.
• Consultation with other specialized specialists (dentist, neurologist, parasitologist, endocrinologist, gastroenterologist, etc.) to determine the causes of increased salivation.

Remember that effective treatment of excessive salivation is impossible without identifying the true root cause of this condition.

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Treatment of excessive salivation

What to do if you have excessive salivation? First, you should see a doctor, for example, a therapist. If necessary, he will assign you a consultation with more specialized specialists.

The main point in treatment is to determine the predisposing factor that could cause salivation. Further therapy directly depends on the underlying disease: this may be antihelminthic treatment, correction of the dental row or prescription of drugs to improve digestion.

There are also a number of specific methods that may be used at the discretion of the physician:

• prescription of anticholinergic agents that suppress the secretion of salivary fluid (platifillin, riabal, scopolamine). In addition to the therapeutic effect, the drugs can cause excessive dryness of the mouth, visual impairment, tachycardia;
• a surgical method of selective removal of the salivary glands, which may be accompanied by a disruption of the innervation of the facial nerves;
• radiation therapy, which promotes the death and scarring of the salivary ducts. May cause the destruction of tooth enamel;
• Physical therapy and massage of the facial area is performed for ischemic strokes and neurological disorders;
• Botox (botulinum toxin) injections into the salivary glands block the secretion of saliva for at least six months. Before the procedure, you must not drink alcohol, take antibiotics or take blood thinners;
• cryotherapy method – a long course of treatment that allows for a reflexive increase in the rate of swallowing of saliva.

Homeopathic treatment can be used, for example, the tablet remedy Mercurius Heel, which consists of potentiated mercury. The drug effectively reduces and normalizes the secretion of saliva. It is taken three times a day in the amount of one tablet for resorption under the tongue. Mercurius is also produced in ampoules, which can be used as intramuscular injections, or diluted with water and drunk. The use of the drug should be agreed with the doctor.

Treatment of excessive salivation with folk remedies

Sometimes, in the absence of serious reasons for increased salivation, it is possible to influence the pathology by using folk remedies:

• water pepper extract or tincture (sold in pharmacies). Dilute a tablespoon of tincture in a glass of water, rinse your mouth after each meal;
• Lagochilus intoxicans. Take 20 g of the plant leaves, pour 200 ml of hot water, heat in a water bath for 15 minutes, cool and strain. Rinse your mouth several times a day after meals;
• viburnum berries. The fruits are crushed in a mortar, poured with boiling water (2 tablespoons of fruits per 200 ml of water), after 4 hours strain and use for rinsing the mouth, you can add to tea and drink several times a day;
• Shepherd's purse tincture. Dilute 25 drops of tincture in 1/3 cup of water and rinse your mouth after each meal.

You can rinse your mouth with chamomile decoction, oak bark infusion, any vegetable oil. It is recommended to brush your teeth more often, avoid starchy foods, and take vitamin complexes.

Drinking unsweetened tea or water with added lemon juice gives a good effect.

If folk remedies do not help, do not waste time and consult a doctor: perhaps the cause of salivation lies much deeper, which requires additional diagnostics and qualified treatment.

Prevention of excessive salivation

Prevention of increased salivation consists, first of all, in preventing pathologies that can provoke this manifestation. This includes observing the rules of oral hygiene, dental care and timely visits to the dentist, proper and nutritious nutrition, an active lifestyle. It is necessary to promptly treat infectious diseases, pathologies of the oral cavity, and observe measures to prevent helminthic invasions.

The prognosis for increased salivation may be favorable if the underlying disease that may have caused the salivation is effectively treated.

Increased salivation can be a sign of many diseases, so before starting treatment, it is recommended to undergo qualified diagnostics and consultation with a specialist.

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