Excessive Mouth watering: 13 Causes, 6 Symptoms, and 5 Treatments

Excessive mouth watering is very problematic. Let’s learn what causes this problem, what are the symptoms of it and how to get rid of this problem in this article. Our mouth contains glands that produce saliva which aids in the chewing and digestion of food.

Excess saliva production is not common when saliva starts flowing from your mouth down your chin, then it is not normal. Excess salivation is common in animals such as your domestic dog and cows but not so much in humans. Excess production of saliva is also known as hyper-salivation.

Hyper-salivation can lead to drooling in extreme cases. Drooling is when excess saliva moves from the mouth and flows down the lower lip. The good part though is that this condition often lasts for a very short time; however, there are instances where this condition persists for some time which could be an indication of a deeper underlying problem.

Excessive mouth watering is not only an irritant to the person going through it; it can also put off those around him or her.

Since we have established that this condition is not only a personal irritant but also a social nightmare, what are the causes and what can be done to treat or address this problem? We shall begin with the causes to help you learn and possibly avoid contracting this affliction.

Causes of Excessive mouth watering:

The feeling of Hunger:

When the hunger pangs strike, it is impossible to resist or hold back. That natural desire for food brings about a psychological stimulation of the glands in the mouth known as salivary glands. These glands produce saliva that causes food to be softened and swallowed while eating.

Salivary Glands Problems:

When there is an issue with the salivary glands or ducts, symptoms such as dry mouth, swelling of the salivary glands, pain, fever and a foul taste in the mouth. Issues with the salivary glands do not always mean a shortage in saliva production leading to a dry mouth; they may also mean an abnormality that causes excess production of saliva.

Dentures:

Most of you have parents or grandparents who lost their natural teeth either due to old age or due to a disease. These folks usually seek the help of dentists to sort out their problems. In a lot of cases, dentists recommend the installation of dentures in their mouths. Dentures are placed as a substitute for missing teeth that are easily removable and put back on.

Dentures may look exactly like natural teeth, but those who have had them in their mouth confess that dentures cannot replace natural teeth. Dentures may have been uncomfortable back in the 90’s, but in this day and age, some dentures look entirely like natural teeth and feel just as comfortable as the natural ones.

If you’re considering dentures as a tooth replacement option, it’s advisable to consult with dental professionals who specialize in denture solutions, such as the experts from denturerescue.com, to ensure you receive the best possible advice and care for your specific needs. They will be able to advise you on the most suitable type of dentures based on your oral health, lifestyle, and preferences.

Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD):

This is a condition that is also known as acid reflux. It occurs when the muscle known as the sphincter muscle situated at the lower end of your oesophagus relaxes at the wrong moment allowing gastric juices to flow up into your oesophagus causing heartburn. GERD is also a major cause of excessive mouth watering.

Pregnancy:

Pregnancy can also cause excessive mouth watering. Due to frequent changes in a woman’s hormones during pregnancy, watery mouth and nausea can be experienced.

Stomatitis:

This is a inflammation or swelling of the inner lining of the mouth brought about by an inflammation of the mouth. Stomatitis can hinder a patient’s ability to eat, talk and even sleep. Your body responds to this ailment by producing excess saliva in an attempt to reduce the pain.

Anti-epileptic Medicines:

People who have epilepsy get medication whose side effects can be the over stimulation of the salivary glands which causes excessive mouth watering.

Enlarged Adenoids:

Swollen adenoids can cause excessive mouth watering. An adenoid is a tissue located above the nose and just above the roof of a patient’s mouth. Adenoid is a considerable part of your immune system, and an infection can cause it to swell.

The swelling causes excessive mouth watering and may also produce bad breath, dry mouth, cracked lips, and a runny nose. Adenoid swelling also limits breathing through the nose forcing patients to breathe through the mouth. This affliction is most common in children.

Sinus Infections:

A sinus infection can also cause excessive mouth watering. A sinus infection can come about due to the inflammation of sinus walls occasioned by viruses, fungi or harmful bacteria. Sinus infections are a significant irritant since they not only cause excessive mouth watering but also cough, bad breath, fever and headache.

Disorders of the Nervous System:

Conditions that afflict the nervous system can also cause excessive mouth watering. Conditions such as cerebral palsy, autism, Parkinson’s disease, downs syndrome, multiple sclerosis and stroke cause the production of excess saliva in the mouth. A watery mouth may lead to drooling which can affect a person’s self-esteem.

The Rabies Infection:

If you are a pet lover, do not go around petting every cute animal you see walking around because Rabies might infect some of them. Rabies is an infection that is caused by a virus which affects the brain and the nerves.

This infection can be contracted when you sustain a scratch or bite from an infected animal. Excessive mouth watering is one of the symptoms of the rabies infection along with aggressive behaviour, hallucination, difficulty breathing and swallowing as well as possible paralysis.

Nausea:

Nausea is the uncomfortable feeling that makes one want to throw up. This is a very common feeling for people who have experienced disorders to do with the abdomen and digestion as well as those who have a habit of overly indulging in alcoholic drinks. Excessive mouth watering is usually experienced just before throwing up.

Baby Teething:

Excessive mouth watering can also be seen in babies during teething. Teething is the feeling of discomfort that babies go through when new teeth are emerging in their gums. In most cases, babies produce excess saliva causing them to drool.

Now that we know the causes, what are the symptoms of this affliction?

Symptoms of Excessive mouth watering:

Excess Swallowing:

You know you have excessive mouth watering when food gets swallowed all too easily before proper chewing is done. This can be dangerous since it may cause choking in some instances.

Saliva Drooling:

When you continuously drool saliva during speech it may be a sign of a watery mouth. A watery mouth manifesting as drooling or the sprinkling of the saliva during speech not only irritates the patient but also affects their social life since the condition can be a significant cause of embarrassment.

Regular Spitting:

Excessive mouth watering can cause more regular spitting. This is because there is an increased production of saliva in the mouth causing the patient to feel the urge to spit.

Speech Alteration:

Excessive mouth watering affects a patient’s ability to speak normally as they did before the affliction manifested in their mouth. Excess saliva can affect tongue movement causing you to have a speech disturbance.

Similarly, excessive mouth watering also causes saliva drooling during a speech. The excessive drooling of the saliva may also affect a patient’s ability to speak properly due to shyness and increased self-consciousness.

Inhaling Fluids into Lungs:

A patient with excessive mouth watering is more likely to inhale or let in the excess saliva along with food particles into their lungs. This may cause severe coughing and gagging.

Affects Taste of Food:

Excessive mouth watering can affect the patient’s ability to differentiate between various tastes of food. This may lead to not only a lack of appetite but also a metallic taste in the mouth.

We now know both the symptoms and the causes of excessive mouth watering; let us now explore some of the treatments;

Treatments for Excessive mouth watering:

Plenty of Water:

Drinking plenty of water can manage the production of the saliva in the mouth and protect against excessive mouth watering.

Cleaning the Mouth:

Proper hygiene through brushing your teeth and rinsing your mouth with mouth-wash can temporarily dry out the mouth, and relieve excessive mouth watering.

Therapy:

A watery mouth causes a lot of irritation that may require therapy. Therapy will help patients by enlightening them on techniques such as lip closure, posture, head control, swallowing, and better tongue control.

Administering Cuvposa Medication:

Cuvposa or Glycopyrrolate helps reduce excessive mouth watering by blocking nerve impulses to the salivary glands, inhibiting the production of saliva. This, however, can bring about some side effects such as a dry mouth, urinating problems, and constipation.

Botox Injections:

A doctor may inject Botulinum toxin as known as Botox into one or more of the salivary glands. This drug causes the nerves and muscles around that area to get paralysed preventing the production of saliva.

It is essential to note that this drug wears off after some time. It is therefore essential to seek additional injections if suffering from excessive mouth watering.