Do you face the problem of excessive salivation and cause you embarrassment sometimes? There are many causes of excessive saliva in the mouth, between temporary and permanent causes, and in this article we will talk about the most prominent causes of excessive salivation, and how to treat this problem.

Causes of excessive saliva in the mouth

There are many reasons for excessive saliva in the mouth, we will mention some of them as follows:

1. Diet

Eating certain types of foods and drinks results in increased salivation, such as foods that contain a high percentage of acids, such as citrus fruits, and foods rich in sugars cause an increase in saliva.

2. Excessive saliva in the mouth when sleeping

Mouth saliva increases during sleep due to the sleeping position, and this problem increases for people who sleep on the side or abdomen, especially when breathing through the mouth and when the nasal passages are narrow. To treat this problem, the sleeping position can be tried on the back.

3. Sleep apnea

Excess saliva secretion from the mouth is a sign of sleep apnea disorder, so you should consult your doctor if there are other symptoms besides the increased saliva, such as loud snoring, feeling sore throat and dry mouth upon waking.

4. Neurological disorders

Some neurological disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, multiple sclerosis, stroke and Parkinson’s disease, cause increased salivation.

5. Infection

Infections from strep throat, sinusitis, tonsillitis and an abscess around the tonsils cause increased saliva.

6. Other medical conditions

Some medical conditions cause increased salivation, such as:

• Allergy.
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease.
• Difficulty swallowing disorders.
• Nasal polyp.
• Pesticide poisoning.
• Insect and snake bites.
• Use of certain medications, such as Alzheimer’s drugs and some antibiotics.

Excessive saliva in the mouth in children

Excess saliva is a common thing in newborns, up to the age of two years, due to the inability to control the muscles surrounding the mouth, and increased salivation is a symptom of the teething period.

Excessive saliva in the mouth during pregnancy

There are a number of reasons that increase saliva secretion during pregnancy, including the following:

1. Nausea

Nausea is one of the most common symptoms in the early weeks of pregnancy, which may cause difficulty swallowing, resulting in increased salivation.

2. Medicines

Certain medications, such as sedatives and anticonvulsants, during pregnancy affect salivary gland function and increase salivation.

3. Heartburn

When a pregnant woman has heartburn, she feels severe sore throat and a burning feeling in the chest area, and stomach acid causes increased saliva secretion.

4. Hormonal changes

Saliva secretion increases during pregnancy at the beginning of pregnancy and the last third of pregnancy, and doctors believe that the reason for this is due to hormonal changes, but there is no scientific evidence to confirm this.

5. Oral infection

Tooth decay during pregnancy can lead to an increased risk of oral infections, which cause increased saliva.

Treatment for increased saliva in the mouth

Treatment for increased saliva in the mouth depends on the cause. Here are some treatment methods:

1. Home Remedies

There are some simple habits that can be followed, to prevent increased saliva secretion, such as drinking water that helps moisturize the mouth, and some people believe that chewing a slice of lemon contributes to reducing saliva secretion, and in the case of tooth decay, it is preferable to take care to brush the teeth regularly. continuous, which reduces the incidence of inflammation and infection of the gums.

2. Medicines

There are some medications that reduce the secretion of salivary glands, but they should not be taken unless consulting a doctor.

3. Surgical operations

In some critical cases, the specialist may resort to surgery to change the salivary glands or change their direction, which helps ease saliva swallowing.

4. Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy to the salivary glands is a treatment method to increase saliva, which results in drying the mouth and treats this problem.

5. Physical therapy

Physical therapy may help develop and strengthen the muscles of the mouth, which helps reduce salivation.

6. Oral device insertion

In some cases that have difficulty swallowing, the doctor may resort to installing an oral device that helps close the mouth well during swallowing.

After identifying the causes of excessive saliva in the mouth, the treatment of this problem depends on the cause, taking care not to take any kind of medication without consulting a doctor.