Imagine going about your day when suddenly your mouth starts to fill up with saliva. You can’t stop swallowing, and it becomes hard to ignore. Such a scenario, known as hypersalivation, is confusing and sometimes embarrassing. “Why is my mouth producing so much saliva suddenly?” or “Why am I salivating so much?” While excess saliva can happen to anyone, knowing its causes, symptoms, and treatments can make it much easier to handle and know when to seek help.
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Causes of Hypersalivation
Hypersalivation has many causes, ranging from simple to more serious. Here are some common reasons why you might experience extra saliva:
- Oral Infections or Mouth Conditions
Gum diseases, mouth sores, or tooth decay will cause your body to produce more saliva which can neutralize the impacts of these bacteria. Irritation in the mouth heals with the help of saliva.
- Digestive Problems
Other conditions, for example, acid reflux or GERD, can allow the stomach acid to flow up into your throat. Your body may respond by producing more saliva to protect and soothe the throat and mouth from acid, and that is how you have the “watery mouth”.
- Medications
Some medicines produce too much saliva as a side effect. This occurs more commonly with some pain relievers, certain antidepressants, or drugs for nausea. If you start a new medication and your mouth seems to be producing too much saliva, it may be worth discussing with your doctor.
- Pregnancy Hormones
Most women experience hypersalivation in the early stages of pregnancy because of hormonal changes. It tends to go away in later pregnancy but is very annoying at times.
- Nerve or Brain Conditions
For example, if the conditions are Parkinson’s disease or cerebral palsy, they could be interfering with the coordination of muscles to cause difficulty with the swallowing of excess saliva. Drooling might be an issue in such patients.
- Diet and Food Preference
Spicy, acidic, or sour food, such as lemons, can stimulate an increase in saliva within minutes. This is a physiological response as your body gets ready to digest these types of foods, but this may be noticeable if you suddenly consume something new or something very flavorful.
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Treatment of Hypersalivation
Treating hypersalivation often involves dealing with the underlying cause. Here are a few common treatments:
- Medication Alterations
If the hypersalivation started when you started taking a new medicine, then your doctor might either change your dose or your medication. In some cases, simply lowering the dose will be enough to slow saliva production.
- Medications to Reduce Saliva
Some medications can help decrease saliva, such as anticholinergic drugs. These can be useful but can cause dry mouth and other side effects, so use them with caution.
- Speech therapy and exercises
If the patient has neurological disorders, working with a speech therapist can help them improve their swallowing techniques, resulting in stronger mouth muscles and better saliva control.
- Change in diet
A few tips for controlling hypersalivation include avoiding acidic or spicy foods, which are thought to improve saliva production. Increasing fluid intake is a natural strategy to deal with excess saliva.
- Surgical Treatment
Surgery might be performed in extremely rare instances, when all the above-mentioned treatments prove to be ineffective, involving removal or reduction of salivary gland functions. Surgery is usually performed only when there is no alternative left.
Hypersalivation Symptoms
Hypersalivation can be uncomfortable and can cause problems. Common symptoms include:
- Frequent Swallowing or Drooling
You may have an overpowering desire to swallow continuously or even dribble. This can happen at night, and it is extremely uncomfortable and nearly hard to perform tasks without struggling.
- Watery Mouth
The common feeling among most patients about hypersalivation is that the mouth feels watery. They usually end up asking themselves, “Why is my mouth so watery all of a sudden?” This happens quite regularly and for various periods.
- Speech or Breathing Difficulties
In extreme conditions, hypersalivation makes you drool uncontrollably, and it can get to the point where it is difficult to speak clearly.
- Bad Breath
Continuous dripping of saliva changes the level of bacteria in your mouth, which can result in bad breath at times.
Conclusion
Hypersalivation is a confusing and sometimes annoying experience. However, knowing more about it can make it easy to handle. Whether it is a medical condition, diet, or a new medication, there are treatments to help manage and reduce excess saliva. If you are asking yourself, “Why is my mouth producing so much saliva suddenly?” or “Why am I salivating so much?” you are not alone, and there are a variety of treatments that can help you effectively manage the symptoms.
