Expert Answers on Oral Health Everyday Health MenuNewslettersSearch Dental Health Expert Answers on Oral Health By Dr. James E JacobsReviewed: October 13, 2008Fact-CheckedQ1. How do I control excessive saliva when talking and singing? Any suggestions would be appreciated! Although excessive saliva is not too common, there are a number of conditions that can cause it - some harmless, others more serious. It is possible that your saliva problems are just a result of the way you speak. Some people speak faster or slower than others, just as some people blink more often, breathe faster, or have a more rapid heartbeat. This may just be what's normal for you. Since it is negatively affecting your life, however, I would inquire about it with a medical and/or dental professional. A competent dentist - or possibly an ear, nose, and throat physician - can look into what might be causing the excessive saliva you're experiencing. Just as background, there are some medical conditions that can cause excessive saliva, including Parkinson's disease, Bell's palsy, rabies, and even poisoning. Sometimes excessive saliva is caused by facial paralysis, as in Bell's palsy. Parkinson's disease, which can cause an overstimulation of the nerves as well as muscles and glandular tissue, can also result in an increase in salivary flow. Additionally, a very bad sore throat or sores in the mouth may lead to difficulty swallowing, which can cause saliva to accumulate. A category of drugs known as anticholinergics, which block some of the nerve impulses to the cholinergic nerve, can reduce salivary flow. Such drugs are often used by patients with Parkinson's disease. Before you can think about this type of treatment, however, it's important that you see a dentist or an ear, nose, and throat specialist to determine whether your saliva is in fact excessive. Q2. I have always had great teeth, but I was recently told I needed a soft tissue gum graft. Could you tell me more about this procedure? How painful is it? How long does it take to heal? What side effects can I expect? Soft tissue gingival, or gum, grafting was introduced in dentistry in the early 1960s. It is now a tried-and true-method used to increase the zone of strong gum tissue that surrounds the outer surfaces of all your teeth, as well as the small triangular tissues between teeth. Patients are advised to receive a gum graft when the soft tissue and bone on the outer surfaces of the teeth have gum recession at the gumline. Usually a patient will see the gum line drop (lower jaw) or rise (upper jaw). When the gum recedes to less than 2 mm dentists recommend grafting additional tissue. The procedure, usually performed under local anesthesia, entails the removal of a thin section of gum tissue from the palate, from an area near your teeth. This tissue is then added to the site where the gum has receded. There are other types of gum grafts, too; when patients have sensitive roots or the roots that are exposed are unattractive, a gum graft can cover the exposed roots, thus decreasing sensitivity and/or improving appearance. Once the soft tissue has been removed from the palate and stitched into place where needed, bandages made of putty are often placed on one or both of the wounds. One should expect tenderness at either or both wound sites. I advise my patients to use a lot of ice on the day of surgery and to take three Advil every four hours the first day. This helps reduce swelling and pain through the rest of the week. The stitches are removed after about one week, and patients typically feel better by that point. No antibiotics are needed on a routine basis, but there are isolated situations in which they should be used. The area on the palate where the graft was taken should fill back in and feel better within one to four weeks, while the grafted site should thicken up and become strong in approximately two to four weeks. This is a very common and quite successful procedure. It sounds worse than it actually is, so don't let your fears prevent you from getting the necessary treatment. Q3. How can I keep my teeth healthy if I cannot afford to go to a dentist? It is unfortunate that you cannot afford to see a dentist even for regular cleanings. I have many patients in my practice who cannot afford involved treatment plans and large sums of money to restore their whole mouth; however, they get a good one-visit cleaning every three months, and it maintains their oral health for years and years. With that said, there are a number of things you can do at home to prevent problems in the mouth:Brush your teeth two to three times a day with a soft toothbrush, making sure you remove any plaque and food at the gum line.Floss each of your teeth diligently and slowly once a day.Use an over-the-counter fluoride mouth rinse after cleaning your teeth.Maintain a healthy diet with a lot of fibrous foods, vegetables, and fruits.Reduce or eliminate your intake of sucking candies, chewing gum, taffy, or any other products with sugar that may stick to your teeth.Try to keep from grinding and clenching your teeth, if possible, since that can cause teeth to become loose or chip. Obviously, these are all important steps to take, but without proper X-rays and a diagnosis you may be doing more damage and creating more costly problems for yourself down the road. You may want to try seeking dental care from a local hospital that has a dental unit or a local dental school, where prices are a lot less expensive. Learn more in the Everyday Health Dental Health Center. NEWSLETTERS Sign up for our Healthy Living Newsletter SubscribeBy subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The Latest in Dental Health Byte Invisible Braces Review 2022 Byte clear aligners are a more affordable option for correcting mild to moderate dental issues at home than Invisalign or metal braces. Treatment with...By Will CarterSeptember 8, 2022 Are You Grinding Your Teeth Here s How to Know and How to Stop This Harmful HabitExtreme tooth grinding may shatter teeth, destroy dental work, trigger jaw pain and morning headaches, and provoke nagging from sleep partners addled ...By Susan K. TreimanAugust 18, 2022 SmileDirectClub 2022 Review Can This Clear Aligner Brand Improve Your Smile for Less Are you considering at-home clear aligner kits? 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