Sound Matters!

Do you spit while you speak which is causing you frustration and embarrassment?  Here are a couple of recommendations:

1.   Have your salivary flow assessed by an Ears, Nose or Throat Physician or dentist to make sure that there is no serious physical problem.   If the doctor determines that you have excessive amounts of saliva, there are some saliva-reducing drugs available (but they do require a prescription).  According to Mayo Clinic dental care specialist Alan Carr, D.M.D.,  excessive saliva can be the cause of:

• Pregnancy
• New dentures
• Inflammation of mucous membranes of the mouth (stomatitis)
• A side effect of certain medications, such as clozapine, isoproterenol, pilocarpine and reserpine
• Damage to the nerves that control the salivary glands

2.   If there isn’t a physical problem, it may be related to the way in which you speak.  If you speak too quickly or if you have learned tongue and cheek positions that create excess saliva, you may need to learn alternative mouth positions. You will need to consult with a Speech-Language Pathologist to help you with excess saliva due to mouth positioning.

Next tip:  How to deal with someone who spits while speaking.

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