Ideally, the fluid secreted by the salivary glands should effectively moisten the mouth, facilitate chewing food and wash away the leftovers from the interdental space. Moreover, it serves as a reliable protection against caries and bacterial growth. But there is such a pathology as thick saliva or even the formation of viscous mucus in its place. The disease is accompanied by a feeling of discomfort and dryness on the gums and tongue.
Dense saliva is the cause
Consider the most common reasons why saliva can be thick. The most frequent factor that accompanies the symptom in question is dry mouth syndrome (xerostomia).
In this case, a sharp decrease in the volume of the liquid produced by the glands and, as a consequence, an increase in its viscosity is observed. Suspected Xerostomia can be on the following additional signs:
- pain or discomfort in the throat;
- bad breath;
- burning in the tongue or the sky;
- dryness of the mucous membranes, lips, corners of the mouth;
- coarsening of the tongue;
- distortion of taste sensations.
When a thick viscous saliva is released in combination with the disease - the reasons can be as follows:
- taking certain medications, usually - antihistamines, decongestants, urine and choleretic, as well as various antidepressants, analgesics;
- radiation therapy and chemotherapy during the treatment of malignant tumors;
- neurological diseases;
- hormonal pathologies;
- Sjogren's syndrome;
- autoimmune diseases;
- psychogenic changes;
- dehydration of the body ;
- rheumatoid disorders.
Thick white saliva in the mouth - candidiasis
Another common cause of increased viscosity of this fluid is thrush of the oral cavity. Fungi of the genus Candida with intensive breeding begin to colonize the mucous membranes, provoking dryness, burning, the formation of erosion and a thick white coating. As a result, saliva production decreases, and it acquires a characteristic whitish color.
Causes of oral candidiasis can be as follows:
- infection with infection from a sick person with close contact, kissing, use of shared dishes;
- disturbance of the immune system;
- long-term use of antibiotic drugs, corticosteroid hormones.
Thick saliva in the throat
In addition to the above pathologies, an increase in the viscosity of saliva can provoke a variety of diseases of the throat and tonsils, such as laryngitis, tonsillitis. Progression of these diseases leads to the formation of white purulent capsules in the throat, which are periodically opened independently or during a cough. Because of this, a sensation of the presence of a foreign body is created, a lump. In addition, an increase in body temperature during inflammatory processes provokes dehydration of the body, which leads to disruption of the salivary glands.
Other factors that determine the described symptom are oral diseases - periodontal disease and periodontitis. These diseases are characterized by dryness of the mucous membranes up to the exfoliation of the epithelium and, as a consequence, an increase in the viscosity of the saliva.
Thick saliva - treatment
To develop an adequate regimen of therapy, it is important to diagnose the exact cause of increased saliva density.
With xerostomia, experts recommend the use of special rinse, moisturizers of the mouth, saliva substitutes, therapeutic chewing gums and sweets.
In other situations - lesions with infections, fungus, inflammatory processes - it is necessary, first of all, to treat the primary disease, and then to restore the activity of the salivary glands.