What Does Excessive Saliva Mean?

Usually, "mouth-watering" is a term of endearment for those who know how to cook a good dish. However, once the term “mouth-watering” refers to your excessive saliva, the idea becomes far less endearing and much more embarrassing. Also called hypersalivation, excessive saliva production can provide individuals with key hints into the state of their overall health, as it’s often a byproduct of some other condition.

If you start to suspect that you have excessive saliva, it would be wise to seek a consultation with your doctor or dentist as soon as possible. To gain a better understanding of hypersalivation, here is a quick look at saliva itself and how to deal with it when hypersalivation becomes an issue.

Role of Saliva

According to the American Dental Association, saliva serves various important functions for oral health, such as washing away food debris from the teeth, breaking food down to prepare for digestion, and contributing high amounts of calcium for keeping teeth strong. For those who suffer from dry mouth, this is usually a precursor for cavities and tooth decay.

In its ideal state, the body should produce enough saliva for performing these indispensable processes and no more. Constantly needing to swallow or drooling could be an indication of the body producing too much saliva, which can make for embarrassing situations if left untreated.

Causes of Excessive Saliva

In most cases of hypersalivation, excess amounts of saliva are side effects of other issues. Some noted causes of hypersalivation include the following:

·In babies, oral inflammation caused by teething

·Oral infections like tonsillitis

·Pregnancy

·Acid reflux

·Some medications, such as anticonvulsants or tranquilizers

·Neuromuscular diseases, including stroke, paralysis, or Parkinson's

Because excessive saliva is usually due to another more serious condition, it's crucial that you seek out medical attention, especially if your daily life is being affected or if it’s causing other issues, such as dehydration, speech difficulties, bad breath, or chapped lips.

Managing Hypersalivation

The best method for stopping the overproduction of saliva is addressing the underlying condition. For many cases, treating medical issues or changing medications can help to resolve hypersalivation, but there are also a few other things you can try for reducing your saliva production. For example, you can avoid drinks and foods that trigger saliva production, which can vary between individuals, whereas citrus fruits are known to lower saliva production.

You might also try swapping out your regular mouthwash for one without alcohol, which naturally dries out the mouth and may signal it to produce more saliva. Staying hydrated can also provide relief by thinning out excess saliva and allowing it to be swallowed more easily.

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