Buzz
Regularly swallowing small amounts of saliva is perfectly natural, but if you find yourself swallowing saliva excessively, it could be a sign of a health issue or anxiety. To improve this situation, it's important to first identify what causes the frequent swallowing. Once the cause is determined, simple measures can often help resolve the issue. In some cases, it's advisable to consult a doctor to address concerns regarding swallowing function.
Steps
Reduce Saliva Production
Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Typically, your body produces more saliva when it's not adequately hydrated. Therefore, drinking more water during the day will help reduce excessive saliva production. Remember to drink a small glass of water before bedtime as well.
- To stay hydrated, start your morning with a warm glass of water, have a glass before and during meals, and sip water throughout the day, even before you feel thirsty or your mouth becomes dry.
Avoid overly sweet or sour foods and drinks. When you consume something sour or sweet, your body produces more saliva to neutralize the taste. Reducing the intake of such foods and beverages can help significantly lower the amount of saliva in your mouth.
- This is why people often suck on sour or sweet candies to moisten their mouths.
Consult your doctor about possible health conditions or medications you're taking. If you find yourself salivating excessively without a clear cause, your doctor might be able to identify the underlying issue. Once the culprit is found, your doctor can adjust your medication or treatment plan accordingly.
- Various conditions, including bacterial infections, viral infections, and stomach problems (especially gastroesophageal reflux disease), can trigger excessive salivation. Some medications, like the antipsychotic Clozapine, may also increase saliva production.
Take prescription medication to treat excessive salivation. Excessive salivation, known medically as sialorrhea, refers to the condition where the body produces too much saliva. There are several medications approved to manage this condition, though they can sometimes cause side effects like drowsiness, dizziness, and rapid heartbeat. It's important to discuss the pros and cons of these treatments with your doctor. Common medications for treating sialorrhea include:
- Glycopyrrolate (Robinul).
- Propantheline (Pro-Banthine).
- Amitriptyline (Elavil).
- Nortriptyline HCL (Pamelor).
- Scopolamine (Transderm Scop).
Tip: Sometimes, managing excessive salivation can be particularly challenging if there's an underlying medical condition. For example, excessive salivation is one of the most difficult symptoms to treat in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Treatment for the sensation of a lump in the throat
Important tips when you feel a "lump in your throat". If you often experience a "lump" in your throat (literally) that makes swallowing difficult – particularly when swallowing saliva – you may be suffering from globus sensation. Globus sensation is the feeling that something is stuck in your throat. This lump isn’t real, but the sensation is very real and causes an obstruction-like feeling when swallowing.
- Some people only feel the lump when swallowing saliva, while others feel it every time they swallow.
- Globus sensation may cause you to swallow repeatedly – even with very little saliva – just to "check" the sensation.
- If you constantly feel like something is stuck in your throat, especially if you can feel or see a lump, contact a doctor. While rare, it’s possible you have a growth or another medical condition, not just globus sensation.
Visit a doctor for a check-up on gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and treatment. GERD is the most common cause of globus sensation. Acid reflux damages the esophagus and causes a lump-like feeling, especially when swallowing saliva.
- You can treat globus sensation by taking medications for GERD, adjusting your diet, and making lifestyle changes.
Try swallowing more forcefully and only when necessary. Though it’s easier said than done, swallowing a larger amount of saliva less frequently may help reduce the "lump in your throat" sensation. See if you can wait 1 or even 2 minutes between swallows (except when eating) – you can set a timer if you find it helpful.
- On average, an adult swallows around 600 times a day, 35 times an hour while awake, and 6 times while sleeping.
Reduce swallowing saliva when you have a sore throat.
Try hot, cold drinks, and frozen snacks. Experiment with some traditional remedies for soothing a sore throat – like chicken soup, hot tea, ice cubes, and popsicles. Cold drinks can numb the receptors in the throat, while hot drinks can ease pain and break down mucus.
- When you have a sore throat, you may feel the need to swallow continuously to temporarily relieve the pain by coating the throat with saliva, which can lead to dry mouth and even nausea in the stomach.
Soothe your sore throat with a pectin lozenge. Sore throat lozenges can help ease discomfort and prevent you from swallowing excessively. Place the lozenge on your tongue and let it dissolve slowly. Take one every 2 hours to relieve pain.
- Do not give throat lozenges to children under 5 years old, as they are not safe for young children.
Use Chloraseptic throat spray (phenol) for relief. You can also reduce salivation by soothing your throat with Chloraseptic throat spray. Spray 1-2 times into your throat, wait 15 seconds, then spit it out. Use the spray as needed to help ease throat irritation for up to 2 days.
- Avoid swallowing Chloraseptic.
- You may experience a mild tingling sensation in your mouth when using Chloraseptic.
Use warm saltwater or throat spray to temporarily numb the pain. Dissolve 3 grams (about half a teaspoon) of salt in a cup of warm water. Take a large sip and gargle deep in your mouth, then spit it out and repeat until the cup is empty. You can gargle every 3 hours to slightly soothe your throat.
- Alternatively, use a numbing throat spray; wait 15 seconds and spit it out. You can use it every 2 hours for up to 2 days.
- Avoid swallowing the saltwater or throat spray, but if you accidentally swallow a small amount, it won't harm you.
Use a humidifier at night to maintain moisture in the air. Dry air can dry out your throat while you sleep, causing your body to produce extra saliva to coat the throat as you swallow. When you have a sore throat, you will feel most comfortable when the air humidity is between 40-60%.
- A humidifier can be helpful during the day, but especially at night when your throat is dry and you constantly need to swallow saliva.
- Excessive humidity—above 60%, especially 70%—can cause other problems. It can worsen nasal congestion and increase allergens in your home. In some cases, you may need a dehumidifier instead of a humidifier.
Elevate your head while sleeping to reduce post-nasal drip. Unfortunately, post-nasal drip can irritate your throat and trigger constant swallowing. Lifting your head while you sleep can help alleviate this condition. Add extra pillows or blankets beneath your head to elevate the upper part of your body.
Consult a doctor if you have severe or persistent sore throat. Most cases of sore throat caused by common viruses will resolve within 3-7 days. If your sore throat is intense or lasts longer than 7 days, see a doctor for a proper diagnosis. You should also contact a doctor if you experience symptoms like a high fever, chills, or difficulty breathing.
- Contact your doctor if your child has a sore throat for more than 3 days, or take them to see a doctor if the sore throat is accompanied by swollen lymph nodes or a high fever above 38°C. Children between 5 and 15 years old are most at risk for streptococcal throat infections and other similar bacterial illnesses.
Addressing anxiety
Talk to your doctor if you feel anxious about swallowing saliva. Even if you have no physical issues, such as excessive salivation, throat dysfunction, or a sore throat, you may still experience anxiety when swallowing saliva. This is a form of sensory motor disorder—an increase in your awareness of a bodily function that’s normally unconscious, leading to intense anxiety. If you think this might be happening to you, reach out to your doctor.
- Sensory motor disorders fall under the umbrella of OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder).
- You might feel extreme stress when swallowing anything, or feel particularly anxious about swallowing saliva.
- Anxiety can make you repeatedly “check” yourself to ensure you can swallow, which leads to continuous swallowing.
Remind yourself that swallowing saliva is normal. Your family doctor might refer you to an OCD specialist who can help you treat this condition and teach you coping techniques suited to your case. A common technique is to repeatedly remind yourself that swallowing saliva is a normal action, that you are fully capable of swallowing, and can do so whenever needed.
- For instance, you can tell yourself: 'It’s time to swallow, swallowing saliva is normal, and I can do it without any problems.'
Practice full-body mindfulness meditation and mindful awareness when needed. These techniques help shift your focus throughout your entire body, instead of fixating on the act of swallowing saliva. Full-body mindfulness is a technique that involves focusing on each part of the body in sequence. Similarly, mindfulness meditation is a technique that centers on being aware of all sensory experiences in the present moment.
- Anyone can practice these techniques independently, but you may find it more effective when guided by a mental health professional.
