Ptyalism
Hypersalivation (also called ptyalism and sialorrhea ) is excessive production of saliva. It has also been defined as increased amount of saliva in the mouth, which may also be caused by decreased clearance of saliva.
Hypersalivation can contribute to drooling if there's inability to keep the mouth closed or in difficulty in swallowing the excess saliva.Excessive productionConditions that can cause saliva overproduction include:
Hypersalivation can contribute to drooling if there's inability to keep the mouth closed or in difficulty in swallowing the excess saliva.Excessive productionConditions that can cause saliva overproduction include:
- Pregnancy
- Excessive starch intake
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease, in such cases specifically called a water brash, and is characterized by a sour fluid or almost tasteless saliva in the mouth
- Pancreatitis
- Liver disease
- Serotonin syndrome
- Mouth ulcers
- Oral infections
- clozapine
- pilocarpine
- ketamine
- potassium chlorate
- risperidone
- mercury
- copper
- organophosphates
- arsenic
- Infections such as tonsillitis, retropharyngeal and peritonsillar abscesses, epiglottitis and mumps.
- Problems with the jaw, e.g. fracture or dislocation
- Radiation therapy
- Neurologic disorders such as myasthenia gravis, Parkinson's disease, rabies, bulbar paralysis, bilateral facial nerve palsy and hypoglossal nerve palsy.