What Conditions Might Excess Saliva Be a Symptom Of?

When you notice more saliva than usual, it might be a symptom of underlying conditions that change how your body makes or handles saliva. For example, people with chronic neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or other motor disorders can have trouble controlling saliva, which leads to what we call sialorrhea. This happens because these conditions can make it harder for the muscles and nerves to keep saliva in the mouth. Another condition is burning mouth syndrome, where people experience a burning feeling in their mouth along with changes in saliva, sometimes noticing extra saliva. In some cases, diseases that directly affect the salivary glands can also change how much saliva is produced or alter its makeup. These changes can occur because the glands might become overactive or not work as well as they should. If you find that excess saliva is causing discomfort or making it hard to eat or speak, it can be helpful to talk with a healthcare provider. They can check if one of these underlying conditions is present and suggest ways to manage the symptoms.