The excessive production of saliva, scientifically termed sialorrhea, is a common physiological reaction experienced when smoking a cigar. This phenomenon is a complex response driven by the body’s internal chemistry and protective reflexes, directly triggered by the cigar’s chemical composition and the physical properties of its smoke. Understanding this process requires examining the pharmacological action of nicotine, the body’s defensive reaction to irritants, and the unique alkaline environment created by cigar tobacco.
Nicotine’s Direct Salivary Stimulation
The primary chemical reason for increased salivation is the presence of nicotine, which acts as a powerful pharmacological agent within the body. Nicotine is known to be a sialogogue, a substance that directly stimulates the salivary glands to increase fluid production. This action occurs because nicotine mimics the natural neurotransmitter acetylcholine, activating specific nicotinic receptors located on the nerve terminals of the autonomic nervous system.
Specifically, nicotine stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, often referred to as the “rest and digest” system, which controls involuntary functions like salivation. This stimulation signals the major salivary glands, particularly the parotid glands, to begin secreting saliva. The resulting saliva is typically more watery, or serous, which is a direct effect of this neurochemical signal.
The Body’s Protective Irritation Response
Beyond the chemical signal from nicotine, the physical characteristics of cigar smoke activate a reflexive defense mechanism. Cigar smoke contains various irritants, including particulate matter, tars, and aldehydes, which are registered by the oral mucosa as foreign or harmful agents. The smoke is also often hot and can be drying to the tissues of the mouth, prompting a rapid biological response.
The immediate increase in saliva production is the body’s attempt to dilute, neutralize, and wash away these irritants. This defensive fluid helps to lubricate the sensitive oral tissues and cool the mouth, preventing tissue damage from the heat or harsh components of the smoke.
Alkalinity and the Need to Spit
The need to spit is largely due to the unique chemistry of cigar smoke, which is typically highly alkaline, possessing a pH often above 6.5 or 7.0. This alkalinity is a result of the air-curing and fermentation processes used for cigar tobacco, contrasting sharply with the acidic smoke of most cigarettes. This high pH environment is crucial because it converts the nicotine in the smoke into its freebase form, which is unionized and highly lipid-soluble.
This freebase nicotine is efficiently absorbed directly through the buccal mucosa, or the lining of the mouth, even without the smoker inhaling the smoke. As the saliva mixes with the alkaline smoke and freebase nicotine, it becomes saturated with a concentrated, alkaline nicotine solution. Swallowing this highly alkaline, nicotine-laden saliva is intensely irritating to the sensitive lining of the esophagus and stomach, which can lead to nausea or gastrointestinal upset. The act of spitting is a necessary physiological response to avoid ingesting this concentrated chemical solution.