| Lately, a number of my patients with Parkinson's | | | | want to touch, hug, or otherwise engage with an |
| have been reporting drooling as one of the things | | | | adult drooling. So, if this is one of your problems, I will |
| that is most bothersome to them. Among medical | | | | ask you take take a 30 day challenge, and try some |
| professionals, there seems to be a few different | | | | of the suggestions below. I say 30 days, because a |
| points of view regarding why this drooling occurs and | | | | lesser commitment will simply not be long enough to |
| what to do about it. Some subscribe to the notion | | | | judge the effect or create a better habit. If you |
| that the individual is producing too much saliva, and | | | | belong to a support group, you might want to |
| may recommend Botox injections to reduce saliva | | | | challenge other members to "mop it up and drool |
| production. While this might provide some "cosmetic" | | | | less". |
| improvement, too little saliva can also create | | | | Drool Less Challenge |
| problems (just ask any head and neck cancer | | | | 1. If you can, chew gum in 15 minute sessions. I |
| survivor) as saliva is the necessary lubricant that | | | | recommend bubble gum ( Bazooka is my favorite). |
| holds our food together and helps to transport it | | | | For that 15 minutes work the gum in your mouth. |
| efficiently without particles getting misdirected or | | | | Use your tongue to move it from side to side, up |
| sticking in our throat. Some of the early swallowing | | | | against the roof of your mouth, and push with your |
| research also told us that saliva is a weak stimulus | | | | tongue against the resistance of the gum to blow |
| (messenger) to the sensory receptors that carry the | | | | bubbles. Denture wearers, try Freedent. Do this |
| message to the brain and which in turn gives the | | | | several times a day, right before or right after a meal |
| instruction to swallow. Hence, if the sensory-motor | | | | might help you remember. |
| system responsible for swallowing is beginning to | | | | 2. Use lip gloss (flavored and sticky) are my favorites. |
| work less efficiently, drooling, along with other | | | | Apply regularly and use as a sensory cue to keep lips |
| swallowing issues might be one of the consequences. | | | | closed, press lips and feel the stickiness. Swallow |
| If I am saying to a patient to "swallow your saliva", it | | | | your saliva and notice the improved pressure when |
| is because their mouth is open and I am seeing a | | | | lips are closed. |
| puddle of liquid ready to drop down on their shirt or | | | | 3. Tart and sour flavors are a good stimulus. Make |
| my papers. In other words, if your mouth is hanging | | | | your own mixture of concentrated lemon juice and |
| open, head and upper body leaning forward, saliva, | | | | water and put in a small spray bottle. Keep it with |
| like other liquids in life, will travel quickly out the path | | | | you in your pocket or purse and spritz frequently to |
| of least resistance. So, sitting or standing up straight | | | | activate a swallow of saliva. |
| and closing your lips, is one of the first things you can | | | | 4. Finally, a rolled up, soggy handkerchief or tissue |
| do to manage your saliva. | | | | used to mop up your saliva is also a bit yucky. Try a |
| Face it, a grown man or woman drooling is not a | | | | terry cloth wrist band like tennis players use. It's a |
| pretty site. Particularly in this day and age of hand | | | | handy way to "mop" up drool and can easily be |
| cleansers at every turn, we simply are not inclined to | | | | thrown in the wash. |