Saliva is one of the most important components of the digestive system. It not only moistens food while eating, but also triggers the mechanism of its digestion. In addition, saliva has bactericidal properties that provide reliable protection of the body against various infections.
True, all of the above is relevant only if the saliva is produced as much as necessary. But if a person has increased salivation, this is already becoming a serious problem to be fought.
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Hypersalivation in adults
The causes of this disease can be very different, but the result is always the same - severe discomfort. The fact is that men and women in the modern world are forced to communicate a lot with other people. Normal communication is impossible if you do not make a pleasant impression on the interlocutor. Increased salivation does not look good. A sick person is forced to avoid contact with other people. A psychological complex develops when it seems to the patient that everyone around is paying attention to his problem. Following is a decrease in self-esteem, and depression occurs.
Increased salivation due to enhanced work of the salivary glands. In the oral cavity of a person there are 3 pairs. The main task of these glands is to excrete saliva in the required volumes. However, in violation of their function, saliva is produced in excess. It literally fills the mouth, because of which the patient is forced constantly spit it out or swallow it. At the same time, it is completely unappealing. In addition, a person cannot eat normally: there are problems with swallowing.
Increased drooling in medical practice is called hypersalivation. This problem in adults is caused by various pathological changes in the body. Often, increased salivation provoke various diseases of the digestive system. Also, saliva can begin to flow copiously after taking certain medications. The reason for hypersalivation may be excessively hot or spicy food, etc. In any case, the problem cannot be solved unless the source of the disease is identified.
About increased drooling The following signs indicatewhich it is impossible not to notice:
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A person begins to get annoyed due to the fact that saliva accumulates in a large amount in the mouth. - The patient is constantly struggling with the desire to swallow or spit drool.
- The patient tries to talk less, since an excess of saliva disrupts normal articulation.
- When sleep comes, a person ceases to control himself. In the dream, he does not swallow, therefore saliva begins to flow out of the open mouth. After sleep, the patient often finds wet spots on the pillow.
It is worth paying attention that the increased salivation is of two types: true and false. To distinguish them is quite simple. In the first case, the actual salivation is excessive. In the second, the volumes of saliva production are within the normal range, but since the patient has violated the swallowing mechanism, there is a feeling of excess fluid in the mouth.
Causes of increased salivation
True salivation occurs as a result of the development in the body of various pathologies of internal organs, infectious and neurological diseases. Only an experienced clinician is able to accurately determine the cause of hypersalivation. In general, you can highlight the following reasons persistent increased salivation in adults:
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The development of inflammatory diseases in the mouth. They provoke irritation of the mucous membranes, forcing the glands to produce more fluid. Such diseases include sore throat, gingivitis, and others. Also, saliva begins to flow copiously if bacteria enter the smallest salivary canals. The body tries to get rid of the infection by flushing the channels with saliva. - Digestive problems. Often, excess saliva in the mouth is caused by increased acidity of the stomach contents, inflammation of the esophageal mucosa, etc. If excessive drooling is caused by gastrointestinal problems, then the glands excrete the fluid quite moderately, but still causes discomfort. Hypersalivation in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract does not immediately reach its peak. She goes to him gradually. During this time, the patient has time to somewhat adapt to the excess saliva in the mouth, and some people even manage to ignore the problem. Do not pay attention to the drooling is impossible. Even if it is moderate, it still remains a pathology that has the potential to become chronic. For this reason, doctors should be consulted if the problem is suspected.
- The presence of a foreign body in the mouth. We are talking about braces, dentures, chewing gums and other things. Any foreign body causes irritation of nerve endings, which are in abundance in the mucous membranes. This irritation provokes the release of fluid by the salivary glands. All this happens at the level of reflexes. Actually, for this reason, doctors do not recommend using chewing gum unnecessarily. It can only be chewed within a few minutes after a meal.
- Inflammation of the salivary glands. This is another fairly common reason for causing excessive drooling in adults. Inflammation of the salivary glands wears called parotitis. During this disease, the body temperature rises, the patient’s neck and face swells, and there is a strong drooling. This disease is more common in children, but an adult can also cause it. Moreover, if the child takes the disease easily, then in adults the disease will be severe.
- Neurological diseases. Severe salivation may occur after damage to the CNS or irritation of the vagus nerve. Also, this disease is often provoked by various injuries of the skull and brain, nerve inflammation, mental illness. In all the above cases, the body loses its ability to control the process of saliva production. Drooling can flow very strongly, while the patients themselves do not notice this.
- Endocrine diseases. Lack or excess of hormones can also excessive salivation. Patients with diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease, and inflammation of the pancreas often encounter it.
- Taking certain medications can cause severe salivation. A similar side effect is characteristic of the following drugs: Nitrazepam, Pilocarpine, Muskarin, Physostigmine. If the saliva began to flow copiously after their application, you should immediately consult a doctor.
- Smoking. This bad habit irritates the salivary glands. Because of this, smokers often spit. It looks quite ugly.
Increased salivation in women
All the above causes of excessive salivation can occur in both men and women. But the latter have one condition that is found only in them. It's about pregnancy.
The body of pregnant women varies greatly. These changes mainly affect the endocrine system. There is a global hormonal alteration, which causes hypersalivation in the early stages. This is the first 3 months of pregnancy.
Excessive salivation during pregnancy is not the norm. It is a sign of early toxicosis.A woman begins to feel severe nausea, sometimes vomiting comes along. In such a situation, the likelihood of increased salivation is high.
Sometimes the glands continue to function normally, but the pregnant woman afraid to swallow, as this may provoke vomiting. In this case, a feeling of hypersalivation.
Often, drool in pregnant women begin to flow strongly due to heartburn. The body is trying to extinguish the "fire" in the esophagus due to the larger amount of saliva. As you know, it has bicarbonate, which is an alkaline agent.
Also as a cause of excessive salivation in women should be noted thyroid diseases. The fact is that pathologies of the thyroid gland are found mainly in women.
Treatment of increased salivation
The basis for the treatment of hypersalivation is to combat the cause of the excessive production of saliva. Sometimes it is enough to remove irritation of the mucous membranes in the mouth to get the desired result. The same psychotherapy gives excellent results in the treatment of patients with hypersalivation on the background of neurosis.
Also for the treatment of severe drooling The following methods are used:
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Cholinolytic drugs are prescribed. They reduce the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system and reduce salivation. - Surgery. During the operation, the patient salivary glands are removed.
- Irradiation of the glands. After this procedure, some of the cells die and they are replaced by scar tissue.
- Injection of botulinum toxin into the gland that blocks the secretion of saliva for several months.
Conclusion
Hypersalivation can occur at any age. Wait for the pathology to disappear by itself is not worth it. Should be sure to consult a doctorto be examined and receive appropriate treatment.
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