Why is my mouth suddenly making so much saliva?

A mouth that suddenly won't stop producing saliva is more annoying than alarming, most of the time. If you're dabbing at your lips more than usual or swallowing constantly, it can come from your glands making more saliva, or simply from not swallowing it as often as you normally would. Mouth pain or irritation, acid reflux, a blocked nose, some medicines and certain health conditions may all play a role. A dental provider can check for problems in your teeth and gums and help you decide whether you also need to see a doctor. 

What you will learn in this article: 

• Extra saliva may mean your glands are making more, or saliva is pooling because you swallow less often. 

• Tooth or gum pain, mouth sores and acid reflux can be linked to the change. 

• Some medicines and conditions that affect swallowing may also play a role. 

• A dental provider can check for oral causes, while a doctor can review reflux, medicines and swallowing problems. 

If extra saliva will not let up, schedule an appointment with an Aspen Dental provider. Your care team can check your mouth and help you find out what may be causing the change. 

What causes excess saliva? 

Your mouth makes saliva all day, and the amount can vary. Sometimes the glands produce more than usual. Other times, the flow is normal, but saliva builds up because you cannot manage or swallow it as easily. 

A review in the International Journal of Medical Sciences explains that drooling often comes from trouble handling saliva rather than true overproduction. It lists medicines, nervous system conditions, mouth pain or irritation, digestive problems and nasal blockage among the possible causes.¹ The timing and any other symptoms can help your care team narrow it down. 

Can a gum or tooth infection cause extra saliva? 

It can, but extra saliva alone does not mean you have an infection. Tooth pain, gum inflammation, mouth sores and other irritation inside the mouth are among the oral problems linked with excess saliva or drooling.² 

See a dental provider if the change comes with tooth pain, swollen or bleeding gums, a bad taste or swelling in your face or jaw. Your dental provider can check for decay, gum disease, an abscess or another source of irritation. 

If your saliva becomes thick or stringy and a tooth hurts, learn more about what thick, stringy saliva combined with tooth pain may mean. 

Could acid reflux be the cause? 

Digestive problems, including acid reflux, may also play a role.² You may also notice heartburn, a sour taste, a burning feeling in your throat or acid coming back up. However, extra saliva by itself does not prove that reflux is the cause. 

A dental provider can check whether a problem in your mouth is contributing to the change. Your doctor can evaluate reflux and recommend the right care. 

Do medicines or health conditions cause it? 

Some medicines can increase saliva or slow swallowing. These include pilocarpine and similar medicines, some antipsychotic and seizure medicines, and benzodiazepines. Conditions that affect the nerves, muscles or swallowing can also cause saliva to pool instead of being cleared from the mouth.¹ 

If the change started after you began a medicine or changed your dose, tell your doctor or pharmacist. Do not stop taking a prescription medicine without speaking with the person who prescribed it. 

When should you see a dental provider about excess saliva? 

Extra saliva may be harmless, but have it checked if the change is new, keeps happening or affects your daily life. See a dental provider if it comes with: 

• Tooth pain 

• Swollen or bleeding gums 

• A bad taste in your mouth 

• Swelling in your face or jaw 

• Saliva that looks thick, stringy or unusual 

Call your doctor if the change began after starting a medicine, comes with reflux symptoms or makes swallowing difficult. Get urgent medical help if you cannot swallow or have trouble breathing. 

Your dental provider can check for decay, gum disease, an infection or another problem inside your mouth. If the cause may be reflux, a medicine or a swallowing condition, your doctor can evaluate it. At-home saliva tests cannot diagnose why your mouth suddenly feels wetter. 

Sudden saliva changes are worth checking when they persist or come with dental pain. Set up an appointment with your local dental provider to check for an oral cause and discuss your next steps. 

Why is my mouth suddenly making so much saliva? FAQs 

Still have questions about excess saliva? These answers cover a few common concerns. 

Why do I drool more at night? 

Saliva can pool while you sleep because you swallow less often. Sleeping with your mouth open can also let saliva leak out. A blocked nose may make mouth breathing more likely. If nighttime drooling is new or comes with trouble swallowing, tell your dental provider or doctor. 

Can stress cause extra saliva? 

Stress may make you more aware of saliva or lead to changes in how you breathe and swallow. If excess saliva keeps returning, do not assume stress is the only cause. Have it checked. 

How is the cause of excess saliva diagnosed? 

Your dental provider may ask when the change started, review your symptoms and medicines, and examine your teeth, gums and other areas of your mouth. If there is no clear dental cause, your doctor may check for reflux, a medicine side effect or a condition affecting swallowing. 

Can children have excess saliva too? 

Drooling can be normal for babies and toddlers, especially while they are teething.² If it continues well beyond the toddler years, begins suddenly or comes with trouble swallowing or breathing, contact the child’s pediatrician. 

What can I do at home while I wait to see a dental provider? 

Stay hydrated, swallow regularly and keep track of when the extra saliva happens. Avoid foods that you know trigger reflux if that seems related. Do not stop a prescription or try a saliva-drying medicine without medical advice. 

Sources 

¹ National Institutes of Health, International Journal of Medical Sciences: “Salivary Secretory Disorders, Inducing Drugs, and Clinical Management.” https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4615242/ 

² IntechOpen: "Sialorrhea: A Guide to Etiology, Assessment, and Management."  https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/64672