Characteristics And Treatment Of Saliva

Sulfur is, of course, a very normal condition among children between the ages of 15 and 36 months. However, it is considered abnormal if it occurs after the age of four. Today we will take a closer look at the character traits and the treatment of it.

What is saliva and what causes it?

It is a condition characterized by an inability to hold saliva inside the mouth and direct it towards the digestive tract. It is a large production of saliva or an abnormality in the processing of it.

The most common cause of salivation is neurological disorders. Among them are cerebral palsy and Parkinson’s disease, which we have mentioned. However, it also occurs in people suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Riley-Day syndrome and the effects of cerebral infarction.

In addition  , this disorder is also common in those who take antipsychotic, hypnotic or sedative drugs. It is also common for there to be a sudden increase in saliva production during pregnancy between the second and fourth week of pregnancy.

Salivation in young children is part of the development and is considered normal.

The characteristics of this disorder

The salivary glands are responsible for producing saliva. There are three of them: the salivary glands, the jaw salivary glands and the tongue salivary glands. The first produces aqueous saliva, while the other two persistently create a thicker liquid. It is the type of saliva that often leads to suffocation.

Every day they produce about 14 dl of saliva, of which 70% comes from the jaw salivary glands and the salivary glands. Sulfur is thus  not a disease that develops into a more serious condition. However, it greatly affects the person’s quality of life.

There is no specific doctor who specializes in the treatment of saliva. Therefore, if you suspect this disorder, you should consult a GP. He or she will refer you to a specialist depending on the cause which has led to the problem.

The classification of saliva

When looking at it based on its origin,  there are two types of saliva:

• Anterior salivation:  It results from deterioration in the neurons affecting the muscles, along with excessive salivation. This causes the fluid to drain from the corners of the mouth or the upper lip.
• Posterior salivation:  When the problem originates in the flow of saliva from the tongue to the pharynx.

According to the Thomas-Stonell and Greenberg scale  , it is also possible to classify it according to its degree or frequency. From that point of view, the degrees are as follows:

• Dry mouth.
• Mild (wet lips).
• Moderate (wet lips and chin).
• Serious (wet clothes).
• Violent (clothes, hands and objects are wet).

Depending on the frequency, the scale is as follows:

• Never to drool.
• Occasionally salivation.
• Frequent salivation.
• Constant salivation.
• Consequences of saliva.

Saliva is a relevant medical problem. It causes not only remarkable disability, but also additional problems in dealing with patients with neurological problems. In general, this disorder has consequences.

For example, it may include the  peeling of the lips, fatigue of muscles, dermatitis, changes in the sense of taste and problems with the voice.

From a physical point of view, however  , the biggest risk is aspiration pneumonia due to the problems of swallowing food. These patients are also more susceptible to oral infections.

At the same time, the psychosocial consequences can be serious. The saliva  usually generates social rejection,  even in caregivers. It also limits the normal performance in daily activities.

Neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease include salivation among their symptoms.

The treatment of saliva

There are three ways to treat salivation:  Speech therapy, pharmacological and surgical. The approach through speech therapy involves performing a series of exercises to inhibit the pathological reflexes. To be more specific, the goal is to improve how to close your mouth and swallow saliva. Persistent training can lead to improvement.

In terms of pharmacological treatment, it involves anticholinergic agents that help reduce the secretion of saliva. However, these drugs need to go hand in hand with exercise. Unfortunately, some people experience intolerance to this type of medication.

It is also possible to  treat salivation by injecting botulinum toxin type A.  This is introduced directly into the salivary glands and also reduces the production of saliva. The most positive thing about it is that it has very few side effects.

Lastly, if none of these measures work, the specialist will most likely perform an operation. In each case, each patient is different and  sometimes a combination of measures is needed to achieve the desired effect.