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The salivating mouth can be a symptom that results from the use of certain medications or exposure to toxins. It is also a symptom common to several health conditions that are generally easy to treat, such as infections, caries or gastroesophageal reflux, for example, and that is resolved when the cause is addressed.
However, excess salivation is also a very common symptom for chronic diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Down syndrome or Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, for example, and in these cases, specific treatment may be necessary to reduce the amount of saliva produced, such as administration of anticholinergic drugs or botox injections.
Some of the most common causes that may be the cause of excessive salivation are:
1. Infections
When the body is dealing with an infection, it is normal for the person to feel the mouth salivating more than normal, as it is a defense of the body to eliminate bacteria. The same happens when the person has a cavity, which is an infection of the tooth caused by bacteria.
What to do: Treatment will depend on the location and severity of the infection, as well as the causative agent, and antibiotics may need to be taken. In addition, it is important to drink plenty of fluids and eat a balanced diet.
2. Gastroesophageal reflux
Gastroesophageal reflux consists of the return of stomach contents to the esophagus, towards the larynx and mouth, the most common symptoms being excessive saliva production, poor digestion and pain and burning in the stomach and mouth.
What to do: Reflux treatment consists of lifestyle changes, such as diet and administration of drugs that neutralize or reduce stomach acidity. Learn more about treatment.
3. Use of medicines
The use of certain medications, such as tranquilizers and anticonvulsants, can lead to overproduction of saliva. In addition, exposure to toxins, such as mercury, can also cause this symptom.
What to do: ideally, talk to the doctor who prescribed the treatment, to see if it is possible to change any medication that causes minor side effects. Given the exposure to toxins, the ideal is to go to the hospital immediately.
4. Pregnancy
During pregnancy, some women may experience excess salivation, which may be related to the nausea and vomiting associated with hormonal changes characteristic of this period.
What to do: the increase in saliva production is normal at this stage. To relieve nausea and excessive salivation, the pregnant woman can have a tea of ginger and lemon and, if she is very uncomfortable, she should go to the obstetrician so that he recommends a more effective treatment.
5. Dental malocclusion
Dental malocclusion corresponds to abnormal teeth alignment, causing the teeth of the upper jaw not to fit correctly with the teeth of the lower jaw, causing symptoms such as tooth wear, difficulty in jaw articulation, loss of teeth, headache and excess salivation. Find out what types of dental occlusion and the root causes.
What to do: The treatment of malocclusion depends on the severity, and can be done by placing an orthodontic appliance, removing one or more teeth and, in some cases, surgery.
6. Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative brain disease that affects movement, causing tremor, muscle stiffness, slowing of movements and imbalance, which are symptoms that start gradually, almost imperceptibly at first, but that get worse with time. time, when new symptoms may appear, such as decreased facial expression, difficulty speaking and swallowing food and changes in salivation. See other symptoms that may arise.
What to do: Treatment for Parkinson's disease is usually done with the use of drugs for life, which help to alleviate symptoms and slow the progression of the disease.
In addition to these, there are other causes that may be the cause of excessive salivation, some of which may be related to neurological diseases, such as cerebral palsy, facial paralysis, stroke, Down syndrome, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or autism, for example.
How to treat excessive salivation
Although in most cases, treating the cause of salivation solves the problem, there are situations where it may be necessary to use drugs to decrease saliva production, such as anticholinergics or botulinum toxin injections (botox).
Created by: Tua Saúde Editorial Team
Bibliography>
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- HOCKSTEIN, Neil G. et. al .. Sialorrhea: A Management Challenge . AMERICAN FAMILY PHYSICIAN. Vol.69. 11.ed; 2004
- PORTUGUESE SOCIETY OF GASTROENTEROLOGY. Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: clinical guidelines. 2012. Available at:. Accessed on 02 Oct 2019
- JUNIOR, Luiz João A. Gastroesophageal reflux disease. JBM. Vol 102. 6th ed; 31-36, 2014