US Trends

why ami producing so much saliva

You’re most likely experiencing something called hypersalivation (overproduction of saliva) or noticing saliva more because you’re swallowing it less often.

Common harmless reasons

These are frequent, often temporary causes:

  • Thinking about or smelling food, especially if you’re hungry.
  • Eating a lot of spicy, sour, or very sweet foods, which can strongly stimulate the salivary glands.
  • Minor mouth or throat irritation (small ulcers, recent dental work, braces, sore throat), which can trigger more saliva to “protect” the area.
  • Pregnancy or hormonal shifts (including some people on hormonal meds) can temporarily increase saliva.
  • Anxiety or nausea; your body may prepare for possible vomiting by producing more saliva.

In these situations, the saliva itself is normal, just more noticeable or more frequently produced.

When it might be from a medical issue

Sometimes extra saliva is a signal of another condition:

  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or acid reflux – the body produces extra saliva to neutralize acid coming up from the stomach (“water brash”).
  • Mouth or dental infections – cavities, gum disease, or throat infections can cause your body to “flush” bacteria with more saliva.
  • Neurologic conditions (Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy, stroke, some brain injuries) – the issue is often not too much saliva but difficulty coordinating swallowing, so saliva pools or drooling happens.
  • Certain medications or toxins – some antipsychotics and exposure to heavy metals (like mercury) or specific insecticides can cause hypersalivation.
  • Less common: vitamin B3 deficiency (pellagra), liver disease, pancreatitis, and rare infections like rabies (these usually come with other serious symptoms).

What you can try at home

If you otherwise feel well:

  • Sip water regularly and swallow more intentionally; sometimes awareness alone helps.
  • Avoid or reduce very spicy, sour, and very sweet foods for a few days to see if things improve.
  • Brush and floss carefully, and consider an antiseptic mouthwash to reduce irritation from plaque or mild gum issues.
  • Check any new medicines or supplements you’ve started; hypersalivation may be listed as a side effect.

If it’s only been happening for a short time and is mild, it often settles once the trigger (diet, stress, minor irritation) improves.

When to see a doctor or dentist

You should book an appointment soon if:

  • The extra saliva has lasted more than a couple of weeks or is getting worse.
  • You also have heartburn, chest burning, sour fluid in your mouth, or a chronic cough (possible reflux).
  • You notice mouth pain, swelling, bad breath that won’t go away, loose teeth, or visible sores.
  • You are drooling, choking on saliva, or having trouble swallowing, speaking, or keeping your mouth closed.
  • You recently started a new medication that lists excessive saliva or drooling as a side effect.
  • You have fever, confusion, weakness, or sudden neurologic symptoms with it.

Seek urgent care or emergency help if you have:

  • Breathing problems, severe throat swelling, or trouble swallowing your own saliva
  • Recent animal bite plus fever, confusion, or strange behavior (possible rabies)

Quick forum-style take

“Why am I producing so much saliva?”
Most people in recent discussions describe triggers like new reflux symptoms, dental issues, anxiety, or new medications, and many get better once the underlying issue is treated (like starting reflux meds or fixing a cavity).

TL;DR: Extra saliva is often from diet, mild irritation, stress, or reflux, but if it’s persistent, severe, or comes with other symptoms (pain, swallowing problems, neurologic changes), you should see a doctor or dentist for a proper evaluation.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.