The experience of dealing with an unusual amount of moisture in the mouth, often called excessive salivation, is medically known as hypersalivation or sialorrhea. This symptom is often noticeable when the body is fighting an acute illness, such as a cold, the flu, or a sinus infection. While it may feel like the salivary glands are producing more liquid than usual, the issue frequently stems from a temporary inability to clear normal secretions. Understanding the underlying physical mechanisms is the first step toward finding effective relief.
Common Reasons for Increased Saliva During Sickness
The perceived increase in saliva during illness is often not an increase in production but a decrease in the body’s ability to swallow or manage normal daily output. When a person has a painful throat from a viral or bacterial infection, they may develop temporary difficulty swallowing, known as dysphagia. This discomfort causes a reflexive hesitation to swallow, allowing saliva to pool in the mouth and throat. The normal amount of saliva, which is typically about one to two pints daily, then quickly becomes excessive.
Nasal congestion, a common symptom of upper respiratory infections, further contributes to the problem by forcing a shift to mouth breathing. This change in breathing causes less saliva to evaporate as it normally would, leading to accumulation. Additionally, some specific infections, such as strep throat or mononucleosis, can directly irritate the mucous membranes and lymph nodes near the salivary glands. This irritation may slightly stimulate the glands, resulting in a temporary increase in actual production.
Practical Steps for Immediate Relief
One effective strategy to manage excessive salivation is to improve the frequency of swallowing. Sucking on hard, sugar-free candies or chewing gum can stimulate the swallowing reflex, prompting the muscles to clear the pooling saliva more often. This constant stimulation helps establish a temporary habit that prevents excessive buildup.
Maintaining proper hydration is also beneficial, even though it seems counterintuitive to add more fluid. Drinking small sips of water frequently helps thin the saliva, making it less viscous and easier to swallow. Thin, watery saliva is cleared more efficiently than thick, ropey secretions.
Adjusting sleeping and resting posture can also provide relief, especially at night. Elevating the head of the bed by six to eight inches uses gravity to assist in drainage and reduces the likelihood of saliva pooling in the throat. Remaining upright and maintaining an alert posture during the day can naturally improve muscle control and awareness of the need to swallow.
Over-the-Counter and Medical Options
For temporary relief, some over-the-counter (OTC) cold and allergy medications can offer a helpful side effect. First-generation antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine, work by blocking histamine and often have an anticholinergic action. This secondary effect reduces secretions throughout the body, including the nasal passages and the salivary glands, leading to a drying effect.
Certain decongestants may also contribute to a slight drying of mucous membranes, which can help reduce the perceived volume of secretions. These medications should be used primarily to treat the underlying cold or allergy symptoms, with the reduction in salivation being a beneficial secondary effect. For prolonged or severe cases, a doctor may consider prescription anticholinergic medications like glycopyrrolate, which directly block nerve impulses to the salivary glands. These prescription options are typically reserved for chronic conditions, not temporary hypersalivation from a common illness.
When Excessive Salivation Signals a Serious Problem
While temporary hypersalivation during illness is usually harmless, specific signs indicate the need for immediate medical attention. If excessive saliva is accompanied by sudden difficulty breathing, choking, or persistent coughing, it could indicate posterior sialorrhea, where saliva is pooling near the airway. This situation poses an aspiration risk, meaning the saliva could enter the lungs.
Any sudden onset of excessive salivation coupled with neurological symptoms, such as facial muscle weakness, tremors, or difficulty controlling the mouth and tongue, warrants urgent evaluation. If the symptom persists for several days after the primary illness has resolved, it suggests the issue is no longer a simple byproduct of infection. Parents of infants or elderly individuals experiencing this symptom should seek professional advice quickly, as these populations are at higher risk for aspiration complications.