What causes excessive saliva?
Nov 14, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Liu Chao
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, "drooling" refers to saliva. Excessive salivation may be caused by conditioned reflexes during eating, childhood development, medication side effects, oral ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux, or other reasons. If discomfort occurs, it is recommended to seek medical attention promptly. In daily life, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, adjusting dietary habits, chewing food slowly and thoroughly, eating a balanced diet, and engaging in appropriate exercise can help reduce stress.
Under normal circumstances, "drool" refers to saliva. Excessive saliva may be caused by conditioned reflex during eating, childhood development, medication side effects, oral ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux, and other reasons. If discomfort occurs, it is recommended to seek medical attention promptly. Specific analyses are as follows:
1. Conditioned Reflex During Eating
When seeing, smelling, or thinking about delicious food, the mouth naturally secretes more saliva. This is a normal physiological response that does not require special treatment and is considered a normal bodily function.
2. Childhood
Infants and children may produce excess saliva due to underdeveloped salivary glands or weaker swallowing control. As they grow older, the salivary glands gradually mature and swallowing ability improves, causing this condition to typically resolve naturally.
3. Medication Side Effects
Certain medications, such as antidepressants and antipsychotics, may cause increased saliva secretion as a side effect. This may be accompanied by other drug-related side effects like dizziness or drowsiness. Consult a doctor to adjust the dosage or switch medications to reduce adverse reactions.
4. Oral Ulcers
Oral ulcers can result from unbalanced diet or high stress levels. These ulcers stimulate the salivary glands to secrete more saliva in order to help clear bacteria and viruses from the mouth. Symptoms may include bad breath, gum bleeding, and oral pain. It is recommended to follow medical advice and use medications such as cydiodine buccal tablets, watermelon frost lozenges, or oral ulcer powder for treatment.
5. Gastroesophageal Reflux
Overeating or binge eating may trigger gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), causing stomach acid to flow back into the esophagus and even the mouth. This stimulates the salivary glands to produce large amounts of saliva to neutralize the acidic substances. Accompanying symptoms may include chest pain, belching, and difficulty swallowing. Under medical guidance, medications such as omeprazole enteric-coated capsules, ranitidine tablets, or domperidone tablets may be used for treatment.
In daily life, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, adjusting dietary habits, chewing slowly, eating a balanced diet, and engaging in appropriate exercise can help reduce stress and alleviate symptoms.
