Consistency is one of the characteristics of saliva that few people think about for no reason. Most often, a person learns that it can change during a period of some kind of disease. There can be many reasons for the formation of viscous and sticky saliva, and most often this indicates the presence of he alth problems. Treatment depends on what has become a prerequisite for the development of viscosity. In the article we will analyze these points in more detail. So why is saliva sticky?
Why does saliva change
Saliva is needed to coat food and move food easily through the digestive tract. Biologically active substances and enzymes that are in saliva are actively involved in metabolism, and also help break down food already in the mouth.
In addition, the liquid biological medium contains lysozyme. Thanks to this substance, saliva has antibacterial properties and prevents infection of the body.
BDepending on the time of day, it is produced in different volumes. For example, during the day, the amount of the enzyme increases, and during sleep it decreases several times. Changing functions is possible due to the different consistency of saliva and its composition.
To understand the cause of viscous saliva in the mouth is possible only in laboratory conditions, because the clinical picture of diseases can be different, and the symptoms depend on the nature and type of provoking factors.
Salivary normal
In the body of a he althy person, up to two liters of salivary fluid are produced per day. Its tasks include the processes of facilitating chewing, speaking and disinfection. The perception of the taste of food also depends on the degree of processing of its salivary fluid. In order for all these processes to proceed normally, salivation must be sufficient, and the enzyme itself must be transparent or slightly cloudy, liquid and not perceptible to humans. Violation of the consistency immediately becomes noticeable: discomfort is felt, speech becomes incoherent, problems with digestion, teeth and mucous membranes of the mouth begin.
What should alert
Most often, patients' complaints are related to the fact that in the morning saliva becomes not the same as usual: sticky, thick or foamy. At these moments, the following signs can be observed:
- dry mouth;
- tongue pinching;
- not passing thirst;
- impaired taste perception;
- hoarseness, constantly tickling in the throat;
- difficulty chewing and swallowing;
- gum inflammation ormouth;
- lip cracks appear;
- plaque on the teeth.
These symptoms are the result of changes in the consistency and composition of the salivary fluid. If there are suspicions associated with viscous saliva, they can be checked for their validity or dispelled with a simple test. To do this, you need a pipette and a stopwatch.
The test is done in the morning, on an empty stomach. First, ordinary water is drawn into the pipette, in the amount of one milliliter, and it is observed how long it takes to flow out. Then the same is done with saliva. Normally, these two indicators should be approximately the same.
Such a study is not a reliable indicator of the absence or presence of the disease. If there is any suspicion of a malfunction in the body, you should contact a specialist and conduct laboratory tests.
Doctors determine the viscosity of a liquid using a device - a viscometer. If he confirmed that the patient has thick and viscous saliva in the mouth, the physician will establish the cause and prescribe the appropriate treatment. For diagnosis, you will have to pass additional tests and visit narrow specialists, so self-treatment is unacceptable.
Diagnosis
When referring to a specialist with problems related to the consistency of saliva, the doctor will use the following methods for diagnosis:
- general examination of the abdomen, lymph nodes, neck, thyroid gland and study of anamnesis;
- blood test: general and biochemical;
- sputum analysis;
- examination of the condition of the throat and larynx using laryngoscopy;
- listening with a stethoscope;
- pharyngoscopic examination of mucous membranes;
- X-ray may be ordered;
- checking the condition of the gastrointestinal tract using ultrasound and FGS.
In some cases, the doctor may schedule an appointment with highly specialized specialists: a neurologist, endocrinologist, gastroenterologist, otolaryngologist, oncologist.
Causes of viscosity and ductility
The causes of dry mouth after illness are much more pronounced. Too viscous salivary fluid often causes dehydration due to insufficient fluid intake, and intoxication, which is accompanied by diarrhea and vomiting. Also, the cause of thick saliva can be side effects of medications. Malfunction of the salivary glands is caused by the following means:
- diuretic;
- antihistamine;
- antidepressants;
- some painkillers;
- chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
In this case, it is enough to cancel the drug or replace it with another one.
What disease can dry mouth cause? Often experienced smokers experience this symptom. In addition to dryness in the oral cavity, saliva becomes viscous and sticky. With serious deviations in the consistency of saliva from the norm, the only solution may be to abandon the bad habit.
Another cause of viscous saliva can be a hormonal failure that occurs during pregnancy, duringmenopause or transitional age. In such cases, medical attention is not required.
Main reasons
Failures in the salivary glands are usually attributed to the following reasons:
- mumps, Mikulich's disease, sialadenitis, sialostasis are diseases of the salivary glands, in which the glands themselves increase in size, become painful, and the amount of saliva secreted decreases;
- cystic fibrosis - a congenital disease that affects the glands of external secretion;
- scleroderma - in addition to the secretion of saliva, the connective tissue of the mucous membranes grows;
- with a lack of vitamin A, the volume of epithelial tissue increases, thereby clogging the ducts of the salivary glands;
- damage to nerve endings in the head and neck area;
- injury to the salivary glands;
- HIV infection.
Xerostomia
The cause of viscous saliva in the mouth, as well as increased dryness, can be a disease such as xerostomia. It is painful and manifests itself with acute symptoms:
- hard to swallow;
- pain and dryness in the throat;
- speech is impaired;
- bad taste in mouth;
- burning tongue.
The disease occurs against the background of diabetes, Parkinson's disease and other dangerous diseases.
Candidiasis stomatitis
What disease can dry mouth cause? This condition is characterized by a white coating on the tongue and mouth. Accompanied by viscous and viscous saliva. Most often, this pathology is diagnosed in children and in the elderly over 60.
Causes of candidal stomatitis are:
- decreased immunity;
- xerostomia;
- pregnancy;
- diabetes mellitus;
- hormonal changes;
- bacterial inflammation in the body;
- violation of the rules of oral hygiene;
- taking antibiotics.
The disease can be diagnosed by signs such as sore throat, saliva viscosity, unpleasant metallic taste in the mouth, white coating, burning on the tongue. Most often, candidal stomatitis appears due to a decrease in the strength of the immune system.
Inflammatory diseases of the mouth and respiratory tract
Most often, the consistency of saliva changes during disturbances in the functioning of the mucous membrane of the throat and mouth. The disease is accompanied by fever, respiratory failure, sore throat. As a rule, such symptoms are inherent in viral and bacterial diseases of the mouth and respiratory tract, such as pharyngitis, tonsillitis and the like.
Paradantosis
Sticky saliva may appear with paradanthosis. Damage to the tissues near the teeth is accompanied by pain, fever and other signs, and it also affects the consistency of the salivary fluid, it becomes viscous and sticky. In patients with this pathology, chewing function is disturbed and the gums begin to bleed.
If paradanthosis is not treated, the process penetrates into deep tissues, which can cause inflammation. The resulting plaque and calculus cause teeth to loosen and fall out.
The disease is accompanied by tooth mobility,itching and discomfort in the gums
How to relieve the condition when saliva is thick
A person who is faced with the problem of viscous and sticky saliva experiences a lot of discomfort. In addition to discomfort, outbreaks of diseases of the gums, tongue, throat can become more frequent, and teeth become more susceptible to caries. Therefore, when such a symptom appears, it is necessary to carry out treatment using conservative or alternative methods.
Having determined why the saliva has become viscous, the doctor prescribes auxiliary methods of exposure that will help you return to normal faster:
- artificial saliva;
- moisturizers available in gels and sprays;
- special rinses;
- heavy fluid intake;
- Specialized chewing gums and hard candies.
Folk remedies include: sage tea, lubrication of the throat with peach oil with propolis and inhalation with eucalyptus. But such remedies are best discussed with your doctor.
Additionally, drug treatment can include the rejection of alcohol, carbonated drinks, coffee and cigarettes - they dehydrate the oral mucosa. You will also need to minimize your intake of dairy products. The specialist will definitely advise you to drink more than 1.5 liters of water per day and brush your teeth with a soft brush so as not to injure dehydrated gums. It will not be superfluous to purchase a humidifier for the home.
Treatment with pharmaceutical products
Depending on the disease that caused the saliva to change in consistency, medical professionals mayprescribe various drugs. In order to relieve irritation in the throat and oral cavity, as well as thin saliva, the following remedies are prescribed:
- Reflex action - such compounds act on nerve endings, thereby provoking additional production of saliva. After the start of the reception, patients note that the cough associated with an irritated throat passes. This includes drugs such as Alteika, Stoptussin, Thermopsol.
- Drugs of mucolytic action. Such compounds dilute sputum without increasing its amount, these include: "Muk altin", "Ambroxol" and the like.
- Resorptive drugs - reduce viscosity due to the fact that there is a lot of saliva. Such funds are prohibited for children under the age of seven.
Prevention
Prevent the viscosity of saliva will help the observance of some rules:
- drinking plenty of fluids, at least 1.5 liters per day;
- giving up bad habits such as alcohol and smoking;
- no coffee;
- home humidifier;
- proper nutrition;
- consumption of vegetables, fruits and grains;
- mouthwash with s alt water;
- regular visits to the dentist;
- timely treatment of mouth diseases.
In addition, regular check-ups with a dermatologist are required. Do not wait until the discomfort develops into unbearable. The density of saliva is a serious indicator of he althperson. And if it deviated from the norm, you need to contact a specialist. Since only a doctor can determine the exact cause of the pathology and prescribe the correct treatment.
