Medical Questions » Mouth and Throat Questions » Question No. 677
| Question: | I am 82 years old and dribble saliva from the corner of my mouth all the time. This causes soreness and is embarrassing. What is the cause, and do I need to see a specialist? |
| Answer: | Unfortunately, as we grow older, our muscles and other tissues do not remain as trim, taut and terrific as they were in earlier years. This is very obvious in the face, where the jowls droop and the skin wrinkles.
We all produce saliva in our mouths constantly, but the flow increases at times when we eat or smell food.
The saliva is contained within the mouth by the tone of the muscles that circle around the mouth, and by the elasticity of the skin and other tissues. Excess saliva is normally swallowed every minute or two, and this actively aids digestion.
Elderly people frequently find that their tissues are less elastic and their muscles less taut, so that the normally produced saliva can escape from the corner of their mouth. If teeth have been lost, and the gums are worn down, it is easier for the saliva to escape from under the tongue to the area just inside the lips.
Plastic surgery would be a very radical solution to this problem, and is rarely performed. Medications that reduce the amount of saliva can be tried, but often leave the mouth feeling dry and uncomfortable.
Unfortunately, using a barrier cream at the corner of the mouth to protect the skin, and a tissue to dab away the excess saliva, is the most practical, if least aesthetic, way of managing the problem.
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