One of the unusual symptoms of pregnancy is excessive saliva. The build-up of excessive saliva in the mouth is also known as ptyalism gravidarum. It is more common in women who suffer from extreme morning sickness. If you are suffering from excessive saliva, there is nothing to worry about. Excessive saliva in your mouth is your body’s way to protect your gum and teeth from the acid reflux that most pregnant women experience.
What causes excessive saliva?
You will experience excessive saliva mostly during the first trimester. Usually, by the beginning of your second trimester, this issue will resolve. This condition is not a serious one and doesn’t affect your baby in any way. It is just an annoying condition for the mom-to-be. The causes of excessive saliva include:
- Pregnancy hormonal changes
- Morning sickness and nausea
- Heartburn during pregnancy. Heartburn irritates your esophagus which in turn stimulates your salivary gland to produce more saliva to neutralize the stomach acid
- If you have an underlying medical condition or tooth decay that can also cause excessive saliva
How to reduce excess saliva?
Spitting out excess saliva is not an ideal solution. Your constant spitting can not only annoy you but also cause inconvenience to others. There is no treatment for this excess saliva. However, certain measures can reduce the amount of saliva and save you from constant spitting.
- Proper oral care like brushing your teeth, flossing, and using a mint-flavored mouthwash can reduce the saliva in your mouth
- Drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated has several benefits and excess saliva control is one of them
- Sucking on ice cubes can also help reduce saliva
- Chewing sugarless gums can help
- Sucking on hard candy or toffee can also reduce saliva
- Eating or drinking something sour
- Sucking on lemon wedges can be effective
- Chewing fennel seeds
Spitting is uncivil behavior. If you feel like spitting, do not spit in public places. If you are at home, spit inside your bathroom basin. If you are in a public place, spit on a tissue or wet wipe towel. You can also carry a small spit cup with a lid.
