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Signs & Symptoms

Ptyalism

Handling Excessive Saliva During Pregnancy

Ptyalism - excessive saliva during pregnancyThough it has a funny name, ptyalism (ti´ah-lizm) is simply an excess production of saliva. As a symptom of pregnancy it occurs frequently in women who are suffering from nausea or morning sickness and seems to occur most often during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

"Most authorities believe ptyalism actually represents inability of the nauseated woman to swallow normal amounts of saliva rather than a true increase in the production of saliva," says Dr. Jorge Pando, an OB/GYN with Palmetto General Hospital in Hialeah, Fla.

As with morning sickness, ptyalism seems to be most common early in pregnancy.

"When I was pregnant with my first daughter five years ago, especially at the beginning of the pregnancy, I found myself constantly 'spitting' at co-workers in conversations," says Karen* of Youngstown, N.Y. "I didn't realize at the time that it was connected with being pregnant! It was only after I read about it as a 'symptom' later on that I said, 'ah ha – well that explains it!'"

Increased salivation can be related to heartburn, which is common during pregnancy. "The contents of your stomach are acidic, and when they back up on you, they irritate your esophagus and cause the burning sensation so familiar to heartburn sufferers," Dr. Pando says. "The acid sensors in your esophagus then trigger your salivary glands to produce saliva that has an increased concentration of bicarbonate, which is alkaline."


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Anonymous says
4 days, 22 hours ago

This is my first pregnancy I started noticing this symptom around my 6th week, I am now 19 weeks and it has not gone away. some things that do help reduce it are sucking on sugar free candy, and instead of me spitting it all out in a can I carry little snaks and water with me and it helps alot.

Anonymous says
3 weeks, 3 days ago

I am 8 weeks pregnant and its in full force for me. I did not have this with my first son, but got it with my 2nd. Now I am pregnant with my third baby and I have it again!! Nothing works. I chew gum, suck on candy and try to snack but the after taste in my mouth just makes it worse. I almost never want to eat because its so bad. I have VERY hard pregnancies. I lost 25 lbs with my first and 40 with my 2nd! This WILL be my last baby. I could never go through this again. Its hard to explain this to others who just do not understand. I am spitting all the time and it is so gross. Any suggestions to help?

Leepyleeps says
June 17, 2010

Oh girls I have the same thing and I'm going crazy with it. None of the staff at my maternity hospital seem to know anything about it and because it does no harm to baby no-one really cares :-(. My friend had Hyperemisis on her 2 pgs and had this the whole way through. I am now on my 3rd-have been more sick on each one and this has also been worse. Thing is, now I'm not that sick anymore (just a little sensitive to foods overall) but the pytalism is horrible. The inside of my mouth is all oversensitive and slightly raw feeling and I have this constant mucus sitting between my nose and throat and it won't go either direction except to make me gag! Fruits of all kinds and anything sweet drive it mad and it's worse when it's frothy-I feel like a rabid dog. It takes about 30-45 mins to get to sleep each night because I have to keep spitting into my spatoon. My 5 year old now goes around spitting everywhere because of me! The thoughts of it lasting another 5 months is unbearable...

Anonymous says
March 28, 2010

This is my first time having this condition but my sister had it severly with her first two children and she was able to remedy it so that she didn't have to carry a spit cup with her 3rd child. She advised me to rinse my mouth with a baking soda and water solution. She couldn't remember the measurements she used but she said that she only had to do it twice a day and it helped because it changed the ph in her mouth. Then stay away from peppermint and pepperment toothpaste because it stimulated the production of saliva. Instead use a baking soda toothpaste (Arm in Hammer makes one). Finally she said to chew gum because it helps retain some of the saliva so you don't dehydrate and it kills the taste in your mouth (if you have one). She recommended Extra Bubble Gum Flavor (sugar free so your teeth won't rot since you will be chewing a LOT of gum.) Hope this helps. I will be trying it since I just got the advice today. Also, if the ph change in your mouth (from the baking soda solution) bothers your stomach chew tums.

Amber says
March 23, 2010

I am 10 weeks pregnant and I started spitting week number 7 and have not been able to stop. I am so thirsty and appear to be hydrated that the skin on my lips is starting to turn black from spitting so much and whipping. I've been on bed rest for a month already and don't know how I am going to do at work, I do customer service. Any suggestions, other than lemons they make me vomit?

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