After you visit the dentist, you may notice some excess saliva and be concerned. Rest assured this happens often and is not a cause of concern. Before we dive deep into why you may experience more saliva after a dental procedure, let’s talk about what saliva is and why it’s important.
What is Saliva?
Saliva is the clear fluid in your mouth that’s made up of mostly water as well as bacteria, mucus, and blood cells. You produce saliva every time you chew and the harder you chew, the more saliva you’ll produce.
Without saliva, your mouth wouldn’t be moist and comfortable. You’d find it difficult to chew, taste, and swallow. Saliva is also important because it fights germs in your mouth and prevents bad breath. It contains proteins that can protect your tooth enamel and prevent conditions like tooth decay and gum disease.
Why Excess Saliva Occurs
When a dentist extracts your tooth or performs a similar dental procedure, your body treats the area as trauma that requires healing. So your saliva steps in and serves as a healing agent by naturally cleaning out your mouth of bacteria, blood vessels, and other unwanted agents. For this reason, you may have excess saliva after dental work. Our Cary, NC dental friends at Tryon Family Dentistry always says you should contact your dentist before the problem becomes a true problem.
How to Keep Excess Saliva Under Control
Fortunately, your saliva will likely return to normal a few hours after your procedure. In the meantime, however, there are things you can do to keep it under control. Listen to your dentist’s instructions and keep gauze pads in their proper place. Also, do not drink out of straw as this may disrupt your wound. Additionally, swallow your saliva as spitting it out may disrupt clotting. Our friend and Brandon, Florida dermatologist Dr. Amy Ross has explained that addressing any concerns after medical is essential to the recovery of the patient.
Contact Wells Family Dental Group
If you have any questions related to excessive saliva and why you may develop it, don’t hesitate to contact our Raleigh, NC dental office today. Give us a call at 919-266-5332. We look forward to hearing from you!