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Drooling, also known as sialorrhea, is excess flow of saliva.
In ALS, drooling is caused by the the following:
In ALS, drooling is not caused by excess production of saliva; it is caused by an imbalance of retention and evacuation characteristics. Treatments for drooling experienced by ALS patients are focused on reducing production of saliva to provide symptomatic relief.
Treatments for drooling experienced by ALS patients include[1]:
Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia is a perceived lack of saliva in the mouth.
Dry mouth in ALS is typically caused by breathing through the mouth instead of the nose. Mouth breathing occurs when the mouth is the path of least resistance for airflow. This is caused by the following:
Dry mouth may also be caused by certain medications, or a comorbidity causing hyposalivation (a lack of saliva production).
Treatments for dry mouth include:
Consuming liquids
Using over-the-counter sprays and gels, such as:
Taking medications to stimulate saliva production, such as: