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Published on: 3/17/2025

How Can I Get Rid of Excess Saliva in My Mouth?

You can reduce excess saliva by using certain medications or treatments, like anticholinergic drugs or botulinum toxin injections, under a doctor's guidance.

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Explanation

Excess saliva, which is also called sialorrhea, can sometimes be managed with different treatments. One common way is to use medications that help slow down saliva production. Drugs in the anticholinergic family, for example, have been used to reduce saliva so that you don’t produce as much. Another option is botulinum toxin injections. These injections help by blocking the nerve signals that tell your salivary glands to make saliva. In some cases, a doctor might also recommend behavior modifications or oral therapy to help improve swallowing and control saliva better. If you are experiencing excess saliva that bothers you, talk with a healthcare provider. They can help decide whether a medicine or injection might be the best choice for your situation, and they will guide you through the possible benefits and side effects. It is important to use these treatments under medical supervision so that you stay safe and get the best care for your condition.

(References)

  • MohammadSadeghi A, Karimzadeh I, Bagheri Lankarani K, Banakar M. Pharmacotherapy for reducing saliva and droplet production in airborne procedures may help to decrease the COVID-19 transmission: A hypothesis. Med Hypotheses. 2020 Nov;144:109874. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2020.109874. Epub 2020 Jun 1. PMID: 32535455; PMCID: PMC7831535.

  • Lakraj AA, Moghimi N, Jabbari B. Sialorrhea: anatomy, pathophysiology and treatment with emphasis on the role of botulinum toxins. Toxins (Basel). 2013 May 21;5(5):1010-31. doi: 10.3390/toxins5051010. PMID: 23698357; PMCID: PMC3709276.

  • James E, Ellis C, Brassington R, Sathasivam S, Young CA. Treatment for sialorrhea (excessive saliva) in people with motor neuron disease/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022 May 20;5(5):CD006981. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006981.pub3. PMID: 35593746; PMCID: PMC9121913.

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