It is interesting to fathom that there are people suffering from the secretion of excessive saliva in their mouth. 99.5% of it contains water but 0.5% of it also contains electrolytes, mucus, enzymes and antibacterial and bacteria compounds. These compounds are very important for the functioning of the body.
Usually, 2-4 pints of saliva is secreted in the whole of the day. But there are people who are suffering from excessive secretion of saliva in the day.
This article will help you in analyzing the cause behind that and will try to help you provide with natural remedies. Thus, it is important to go through the entire article at a stretch.
Table of Contents
Home RemediesTo Stop Excessive Salivation
These home remedies are so effective that you don’t even have to subject your body to allopathic medicines. But, that is possible only if you follow these home remedies religiously.
They are enumerated below:
1. Cloves
Cloves have curative effects pertaining to oral infections. They also provide the body with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Thus, it maintains good oral hygiene and helps in reducing oral diseases. Further, it aids in providing numbness in the mouth which helps in reducing hypersensitivity of salivary glands.
What To Do?
Chewing two cloves 3-5 times a day can reduce excess saliva. Or alternatively, you may have some tea with infused cloves in it 2-3 times a day. But, it is mandated that the effect of this would not be so strong compared to chewing actual cloves.
2. Black Pepper, Ginger, And Long Pepper Mixture
This is a brilliant mixture to look forward when talking about reducing excessive saliva production in the mouth.
The ingredients and the procedure are summarized below:
| Ingredients | Single Dosage |
| Black pepper | 100 mg |
| Dried Powdered Ginger | 100 mg |
| Long pepper | 100 mg |
| Honey | 1 tsp. |
You need to mix first three ingredients in equal ratio and then store it in a safe place, which is moisture free. To make the mixture more interesting you may also add some yogurt and veggies.
Later add some honey before consumption for the sweetness that is required. Have this solution twice a day for a month to get rid of the excessive saliva in the mouth.
3. Cinnamon Tea
Cinnamon also works in a similar manner as a clove works.
The ingredients and procedure for having it are mentioned below:
| Ingredients | Quantity |
| Cinnamon crushed or powdered | 1/4 tsp. |
| Water | 1 cup |
| Honey | 2 tsp. |
- Take 2-3 sticks of cinnamon and crush them.
- Take one cup of water in a pan and add cinnamon to it. Keep it for boiling till the time you aren’t engulfed with a beautiful aroma.
- Leave the solution for 10-20 minutes.
- Now, strain the tea and add 2 tablespoon honey. Try not to use any other artificial sweeteners as hey also lead to excessive saliva secretion in the mouth.
4. Kutki (PicrorhizaKurroa)
Kutki (PicrorhizaKurroa) roots work tremendously in cases of overproduction of saliva. It helps to balance out the hormones in the body and is well known for improving digestive and liver functions in the body.This mechanism proves to be helpful to modulate the stimulation of saliva creation. It also increases the clearance of saliva from the mouth.
5. Neem (Azadirachta Indica)
Neem bark or leaves are useful for reducing excess saliva. Furthermore, it has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. They are helpful for clearance and purification of the body. You may have neem infused water or juice on an everyday basis for best results.
6. Khadira (Catechu Or Black Cutch Tree)
Catechu is the best medicine for this problem. It has astringent taste and action, which works against the salty, sour and sweet taste of the mouth.
Generally, these three tastes are the reason and trigger overproduction of saliva in the mouth. It is interesting to know that all the parts of this plant may be used for this purpose.
Further, it helps to reduce inflammation of gums, mucous membranes of the mouth, tonsillitis, ulcers and sore throat. These infections are also major contributory factors for excess saliva secretion. Catechu helps in treating these conditions and decreases excess saliva production.
Note: It should be noted that it would work best if one uses all the above-mentioned herbs in the following proportion:
Kutki: 50 grams of root powder
Neem: 100 grams of stem bark powder
Khadira (Catechu or Black Cutch Tree): 100 grams of stem bark powder
- Mix all these ingredients together.
- Start taking half teaspoon of the mixture every hour after the meal you have in the day.
- This remedy may prove to be the most effective in solving your problem of excessive saliva production.
7. Indian Gooseberry
Indian gooseberry is also beneficial for reducing unnecessary salivation and acidity of the stomach. It stops sour water taste in the mouth and acts as a good antacid, thereby solving your problem.
- Use its powder mixed with warm water immediately after having food.
- It also acts as a good health tonic, so you may take it 3 times a day.
- Try to avoid other Amla formulations like Amla Candy or Amla juice.
8. Ayurvedic Remedy
This may not work for everybody but there is no harm in trying as it has helped people earlier.
The following ingredients are required for the same
| Herbs | Dosage |
| Amla Powder | 1 gram |
| Licorice | 1 gram |
| Nut Grass | 500 mg |
It is to be noted that if you have constipation, then the dosage of nut grass should be reduced to 250 mg and you may add 500 mg of Giloy Sat in the mixture. You may take this mixture twice or thrice a day depending on the severity of the problem.
9. Yogurt
Yogurt is highly recommended due to its ability to regulate the digestive system which also helps to reduce the eructation after a meal. Consume one cup of non – sweetened yogurt after one meal to reduce exaggerated saliva in the mouth.
10. Water
It might seem stupid to consider water as an option to reduce excessive saliva production in the mouth. Yet, it is significant to keep the body hydrated at all times. Thus, it may help you treat the excessive saliva in the mouth but may not work best for everybody.
11. Ginger
Ginger is one of the most effective methods that you may adapt to diminish the amount of saliva inside your mouth. Ginger helps to bring more advantages to the body due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
You may use ginger in the following manner:
- Cut ginger into thin slices.
- Place one of the slices inside your mouth and keep it for few minutes.
- Do this on a daily basis for best results.
- Alternatively, you may also have some ginger tea on a daily basis for milder results.
12. Mint
Mint can also help you reduce the exaggerated saliva in the mouth as it helps to freshen up the breath by soaking in the extra-water present in the mouth. You may place clean mint leaves inside your mouth for some time period on a daily basis for effective results to be seen.
13. Ice Chips
During the day you may suck on ice chips to encourage excessive swallowing. This will enable you to swallow the excessive saliva being secreted in your mouth so that it does not start to hamper your dialect.
Excessive Saliva During Pregnancy
During early pregnancy, it has been experienced by some women, that along with morning sickness and nausea, they tend to produce more saliva in the morning. This may also happen due to excessive hormone fluctuations in the body.
However, the excessive saliva secretion may subside when nausea improves that is after 12-14 weeks of pregnancy. Certain remedies to control excessive saliva secretion in the mouth would be, to take continuous regular meals or to keep munching on dry crackers which can help to absorb the extra saliva in the mouth.
How To Prevent Excessive Saliva?
Certain medications which may help you decrease the saliva production are:
1.Glycopyrrolate(Cuvposa): This medicine helps to block nerve impulses to the salivary glands. However, this medication may have some severe side effects, like:
a) dry mouth
b) constipation
c) trouble urinating
d) blurred vision
e) hyperactivity
f) irritability
2.Scopolamine(Hyoscine): This is basically a skin patch that is placed behind the ear. It also works by blocking nerve impulses of the salivary glands. It also has some side effects which include:
a) dizziness
b) rapid heartbeat
c) trouble urinating
d) blurred vision
e) drowsiness
There are physicians who also recommend botulinum toxin (Botox) injections only if your hyper-salivation is constant. However, it is mandated that you should consult your physician first and only after that you should go for such a severe option like an injection.
These were some of the natural home remedies and medications which will help you reduce the saliva in the mouth.
Causes Of Excessive Saliva Secretion
Following mentioned are the causes which result in excessive saliva secretion:
1. Acidity And GERD
It is the most common cause of this problem. It is also observed that people face this problem mostly in the morning. You may start to feel a bitter watery taste in your mouth. This is called water brash. As per an Ayurvedic study, herein the Pitta Dosha becomes dominant and aggravated and Kapha Dosha is also produced excessively.
2. Excessive Intake Of Carbohydrate, Starch, And Sweets
Our body has a tendency to produce more saliva in response to direct sugars such as sweets and carbohydrates. If you avoid taking a balanced diet and take more starch in your diet, then it may also lead to excess saliva in the mouth.
3. Pregnancy
In pregnancy as the hormones keep fluctuating, it is also considered as a cause of excessive saliva secretion.
4. Dehydration
Even though dehydration means the reduction of water inside the body, it leads to excessive watering of the mouth as the salivary glands tend to produce more water to rehydrate the mouth.
5. Diseases
Some diseases like:
1. A mouth ulcer,
2. Mouth infections,
3. Liver disorders,
4. Pancreatitis,
5. Rabies,
serotonin syndrome may also lead to excessive production of saliva in the mouth.
6. Medications
There are certain medications such as clozapine, ketamine, potassium chlorate, rabeprazole, and risperidone which may have a side effect leading to excessive secretion of saliva in the mouth.Further, appetite suppressants, certain types of blood pressure drugs, diuretics (water pills) and most antidepressants all of them do lead to more saliva production in the mouth.
7. Ill-Fitting Dentures & Teething
These are two problems which also may lead to excessive saliva in the mouth as the fitting of the dentures is so inappropriate that the glands are not able to adjust to the alien element in the mouth.
8. Metallic & Chemical Toxins
Continuous exposure to mercury, copper, arsenic and other metallic substances may also cause excessive salivation.
9. Decreased Clearance Of Saliva
There are a ton of reasons for the same which are enumerated below:
a) Tonsillitis (common cause)
b) Abscesses in the oral cavity
c) Mumps
d) Inflammation of the epiglottis (epiglottitis)
10. Smoking
Smoking may also lead to dryness of mouth initially and later on it does lead to excessive watering of the mouth. Thus, it is best to avoid smoking at all times.
11. Other Causes
They may also include the following rare disorders which lead to the overproduction of saliva in the mouth:
a) rare neurologic disorders
b) paralysis,
c) Parkinson’s disease,
d) myasthenia gravis
e) Cancer treatment and radiation therapy.
Symptoms Of Excessive Saliva In The Mouth
There are no such symptoms of excessive saliva in the mouth apart from the most obvious one. The most obvious symptom is that you will start experiencing more saliva in your mouth than usual.
Further, you may also experience situations like drooling while speaking or bubbles forming on the sides of your mouth while chewing.
When you start to experience such situations then you should immediately consult your physician for the remedies for excessive saliva secretion in the mouth.
There are some other symptoms also however, they are very rarely experienced by people. They are:
a) foul odour
b) bleeding in the gums
c) inflammation in the mouth
d) swelling up of the gums
e) mouth ulcers
Diagnosis
Your doctor may be able to see through or diagnose the problem of hypersalivation by looking at the symptoms. Further, after going through your medical history and your symptoms he may be able to decipher whether you are suffering from this problem or not.
Further, if you have already been facing a chronic problem of hypersalivation then he may use a scale system to see how chronic the situation is. This will help him determine the best treatment for you.
FAQ’s
While going through the article it is obvious you may have come up with some questions.
Some of the frequently asked questions are mentioned herein for your analysis:
1. Do The Home Remedies Also Require Doctor’s Advice?
It is mandated that usually, these home remedies are not harmful at all as they are all naturally procured. Yet, if you feel any disdain and apprehensions regarding the remedy you should consult the chemist or the doctor. This is because he would know your problem in a better manner.
2. How Long Will It Take To Get Rid Of The Excessive Saliva In The Mouth?
This depends from person to person but generally, on an average, it does take about 23 months for the home remedies to show their effect properly.
3. Why Do I Wake Up With Saliva In My Mouth?
Drooling while sleeping is a fairly common phenomenon and may happen to anybody. The usual reasons for this to happen are the above-mentioned causes or it could be if you sleep in a side sleeping posture.
The steps which you may take to prevent this from happening are:
- Start sleeping on your back as it helps the saliva settle back down the throat rather than flowing outside the mouth.
- Prop your head up by using 2 pillows while you sleep. This will help in pushing back the extra saliva down the throat.
- Breather through your nose: Keep breathing through your nose and not by the mouth while sleeping. Yet, if you have a cold then you should sleep after taking some nasal decongestants.
- Lastly, you should consult your doctor for medications or you may also use some above-mentioned home remedies for the same.
It is hoped that this article has helped solve all your doubts about the problem. Further, it is hoped that it has provided you with home remedies which you may apply at your convenience.
Yet, if you have any doubts and apprehensions then you should definitely consult a doctor or a general physician for the problem.
