Can I control excessive salivation (sialorrhea) with medication or treatment?
Sialorrhea can be difficult to treat. The choice of treatment often depends on the cause. There are many different causes, including: • Neurological disease, such as cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease or stroke • Oral inflammation, including teething (in infants) or oral infection • Toxin exposure, such as inhaled mercury, nerve agents or certain pesticides • Medication side effects, such as certain anti-seizure or anti-psychosis medicines (especially clozapine) • Anatomical abnormalities, such as tongue enlargement, orthodontic problems, surgical deformity or a complication of radiation therapy For mild cases, no treatment may be needed. For cases that require treatment, a number of options are available, including: • Stopping or changing medicines that may be contributing to the excessive salivation • Dental or orthodontic care to treat inflammation, infection or to provide braces or other appliances • Removing the tonsils (if they are repeatedly infected or clearly enlarged) • Glyc
