How to stop excessive mouth saliva?
Excessive saliva (drooling) doesn’t always need to be treated. Treatment may be recommended for severe drooling. This occurs when saliva wets clothing and dribble bibs are needed. Additionally, salivation can interfere with daily activities and create social challenges.
Treatment for your child is tailored to their individual needs. This is done by a multidisciplinary team, which consists of several healthcare specialists.
A combination of paediatricians, behavioural therapists, speech and language therapists, dentists, neurologists, ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists or social workers may be consulted. Your child may be referred to different specialists depending on the cause and severity of drooling.
Treatment for your child is tailored to their individual needs. This is done by a multidisciplinary team, which consists of several healthcare specialists.
A combination of paediatricians, behavioural therapists, speech and language therapists, dentists, neurologists, ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists or social workers may be consulted. Your child may be referred to different specialists depending on the cause and severity of drooling.
Speak to your healthcare professional
If you are concerned about the effect of drooling on a child’s day-to-day life, start a conversation with their healthcare professional.
Management options for drooling may include the following:
Conservative management
Conservative management involves managing the contributing factors of drooling, such as improving posture, regular dental visits, or reviewing their medications. Behavioural techniques are explored to help a child recognise the feeling of drooling and educate them on how to respond to this appropriately.
Oral-motor exercises
Exercises can help improve mouth control for children. These exercises can help with closure of the lips and tongue control. They can also help with swallowing problems.
A retainer-type mouth appliance may be an option, which the healthcare professional will assess to see if it is appropriate for your child.
A retainer-type mouth appliance may be an option, which the healthcare professional will assess to see if it is appropriate for your child.
Medications
Your child may not have the required concentration, attention and motivation for behavioural techniques and oral-motor exercises, or their difficulties with mouth control may be too severe. In this case, medication may benefit your child.
Different medications can be administered to children in various ways. Tablets, liquids, injections, and skin patches are all viable options. The best choice depends on a child's individual needs. Medications will reduce the amount of watering in a child’s mouth, which in turn, reduces excessive saliva.
Different medications can be administered to children in various ways. Tablets, liquids, injections, and skin patches are all viable options. The best choice depends on a child's individual needs. Medications will reduce the amount of watering in a child’s mouth, which in turn, reduces excessive saliva.
Surgery
In some extreme cases of drooling, other treatments may not have been successful. The healthcare professional may then discuss surgery on the salivary glands as a solution. This surgery intends to direct saliva towards the throat instead of the front of the mouth. Alternatively, the salivary glands may be partially removed to reduce the amount of saliva.
For further information about the management of sialorrhoea, speak to your child’s healthcare professional.