Merck Manual

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Causes of Excessive Salivation

Causes of Excessive Salivation

  • Drugs or poisons

  • Irritation associated with inflammation of the mouth or tongue, foreign objects in the mouth, tumors, injuries, or other defects of the mouth

  • Infectious diseases such as rabies, the nervous form of distemper, or other convulsive disorders

  • Motion sickness, fear, nervousness, or excitement

  • Reluctance to swallow from irritation of the esophagus

  • Inflamed tonsils (tonsillitis)

  • Administration of medicine

  • Conformational defects of the mouth

  • Metabolic disorders such as hepatic encephalopathy or kidney failure

  • Abscess or other blockage or disorder of the salivary glands