Ask Me Help Desk - Saliva problem

I have a saliva problem about two or three times a month for about 8 months now. It wakes me up if I accidentally swallowed some or when it is too much in my mouth during sleeping, It tastes bad and I couldn't go back to sleep until several hours passes by.

I had some lumps behind my left ear about one or two months after the saliva problem first occurred. I went to see my doctor about the lumps and also asked her about the saliva problem, and she said they were caused by the same thing – saliva glands. She subscribed some drug for 10 days use, and during the ten days, the problem did not occur, but gradually, it came back only less frequently. (It had happened about 3 or 4 times a month before I took the drug, and it could be 3 times in a row).

I brush my teeth regularly twice a day (morning and night), and I don't smoke. I'm inclined to believe that the Vitamins I started taking every morning since last June might be the cause.

The night before last night the problem came, and last night when I went to bed, I felt a sour kind of taste in my mouth and I knew the problem would visit me again last night, and it did. Could that be because the Vitamin I'm taking changed the PH in my mouth, which caused the saliva problem?

Really hope any one could help me out on this! Thanks!:)

Of course saliva glands release saliva. What problem with them did the doctor say you have?

... and what vitamins did you start taking about the same time that this problem started?

HI,
Have you seen an ENT (Ear-Nose-Throat) doctor?
Was the drug Levoxyl?
This particular drug is for Thyroid gland issues, which do affect the Saliva glands. If you haven't seen an ENT, and if the issue continues, I would make an appointment.
I have been taking daily Vitamins now for the last many years, helps with feeling better, in my own personal case. But, haven't heard of any vitamins causing this... doesn't mean they can't. I do wish you the best, and good luck.

Thank you! I posted a message to you weeks ago but just found out that it didn't appear here. Maybe lost in the syber space, or I accidentally posted somewhere else.

Anyway, I went to my doctor, and she referred me to an ENT doctor. But the appointment is in next month. Had an upper GI test though, and detected refluxing. That might be the cause.

Just a quick update on my case and thank you both for replying me!! :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredg

HI,
Have you seen an ENT (Ear-Nose-Throat) doctor?
Was the drug Levoxyl?
This particular drug is for Thyroid gland issues, which do affect the Saliva glands. If you haven't seen an ENT, and if the issue continues, I would make an appointment.
I have been taking daily Vitamins now for the last many years, helps with feeling better, in my own personal case. But, haven't heard of any vitamins causing this......doesn't mean they can't. I do wish you the best, and good luck.

Hi, Youer,
Thank you for the update. I, too, have acid reflux! Take Prevacide once a day. Although I've never noticed any difference in saliva production, I do feel much better now, without the feelings of something "being caught in my upper throat" most of the time. Best of luck.

Thank you! Is that a prescription drug or I can get it at any pharmacy store without a doctor's prescription?

I guess the major cause for my acid refulx is that I go to bed within three hours after dinner. I now started having dinner about two hours earlier than before, and the problems didn't visit me so far. :) But I think I'll still need the drug to help me cure the reflux.

Thanks again for your information! Have a wonderful Memorial weekend!

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredg

Hi, Youer,
Thank you for the update. I, too, have acid reflux! Take Prevacide once a day. Although I've never noticed any difference in saliva production, I do feel much better now, without the feelings of something "being caught in my upper throat" most of the time. Best of luck.

Hi Fredg,

I've been taking Prevacid for about a month now, but I didn't feel any better. Instead, I noticed the "something being caught in my upper throat" feeling more often now. My doctor told me to take the medicine one to two hours after dinner, but the ENT doctor told me to take it before dinner.

When did you take Prevacid? How long have you been taking it before the refux symptoms were gone?

My doctor gave me a prescription of Prevacid for 6 month's use. Did you take it for that long too?

Your answer will be deeply appreciated!

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredg

Hi, Youer,
Thank you for the update. I, too, have acid reflux! Take Prevacide once a day. Although I've never noticed any difference in saliva production, I do feel much better now, without the feelings of something "being caught in my upper throat" most of the time. Best of luck.

Do you floss every day and use Listerine? I've found that if I don't floss regularly, sometimes at night my saliva will taste and smell worse.

Also, have you seen an EarNoseThroat specialist to see if you have any sinus drainage? Sometimes when a sinus infection is low-grade and you don't have the temperature spikes, there will still be some foul-smelling drainage.

Thank you very much for your reply!

I floss every day, but use Listerine only occasionally. I've seen an ENT doctor and I do have a mild sinus infection. I've been using Prevacid and Nasonex for a month and a half now, but the problem is still there. :(

Thank you for your reply though. :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by wynelle

Do you floss every day and use Listerine? I've found that if I don't floss regularly, sometimes at night my saliva will taste and smell worse.

Also, have you seen an EarNoseThroat specialist to see if you have any sinus drainage? Sometimes when a sinus infection is low-grade and you don't have the temperature spikes, there will still be some foul-smelling drainage.