When a dentist removes your tooth, your body automatically treats the area as a wound that need to be healed. As a result, your saliva thickens and you begin to have an excessive amount of it.
Be sure to know that excessive drooling following a procedure is completely normal and is a common symptom patients often experience. Typically, the buildup of saliva only lasts as long as the recovery process.
So your saliva steps in and serves as a healing agent by naturally cleaning out your mouth of bacteria, blood vessels, and other unwanted agents. For this reason, you may have excess saliva after dental work.
Swallowing your saliva will create enough pressure to stop the residual bleeding and stabilize the blood clot. Swallowing your saliva will prevent DRY-SOCKET PAIN.
Try to avoid rinsing and spiting for the rest of the day of your surgery. This tends to disturb the blood clot that is forming and can prolong bleeding and healing. Saliva can be swallowed, even if slightly blood tinged.
Be careful to use gentle swishing motions. Too much force while swishing the salt water could irritate and possibly lead to a dry socket.
Drink enough fluids daily.
Drink at least 8 to 10 cups of fluid to help prevent dehydration and help thin saliva. Drink warm fluids to help clear your mouth of thick saliva and to help 'wash' food down.
Sticky, thick saliva can also be a sign of dehydration. When you're dehydrated, your body isn't taking in enough fluids to replace those lost.
Sticky or thick saliva happens when there is not enough moisture in your saliva, creating a thicker consistency. In some cases, mucus will mix with your saliva, creating that stickiness you feel in the back of your throat and mouth.
Foamy spit is usually the result of dry mouth. Dry mouth could be a short-term response to conditions like: Dehydration. Stress.
It's usually recommended that you take a day or two off work after having a wisdom tooth removed. You won't need a sick note from your doctor or dentist for this.
In most cases, sticky saliva is not a cause for concern and can be treated at home. However, there are some instances in which you should see a dentist, like if the sticky saliva is accompanied by other symptoms, such as shortness of breath or difficulty swallowing.
Increases Saliva Production
Drinking water helps your body produce adequate saliva to keep your mouth moist and maintain a healthy environment for your teeth and gums.
Postnasal drip refers to excess mucus that someone may feel in the back of the nose and throat, causing a constant need to clear the throat. It may lead to symptoms, such as a sore throat and trouble swallowing. Environmental triggers, such as allergies, cold weather, or dry air, may cause postnasal drip.
Suggest warm liquids like soups, hot chocolate, Ovaltine®, broth, tea or warm water to help clear mouth of thick saliva and wash foods down.
Use over-the-counter medicines to help thin your saliva, such as Mucinex or Robitussin. It is important to drink plenty of water when you take these medicines.
Dry mouth is a common clinical problem, and different products have been proposed to improve it. Making products such as mouthwash or lozenges using yogurt can help to reduce dry mouth.
Dysphasia is usually a sign that there is a problem with your esophagus, the muscular tube that moves food and liquids from the back of your mouth to your stomach. If dysphagia is severe, you may not be able to take in enough fluids and calories to stay healthy. In severe cases, even saliva is difficult to swallow.
So, to answer your questions: The phlegm itself isn't toxic or harmful to swallow. Once swallowed, it's digested and absorbed. It isn't recycled intact; your body makes more in the lungs, nose and sinuses. It doesn't prolong your illness or lead to infection or complications in other parts of your body.
Though it may be tempting to touch or inspect the extraction site, doing so can cause additional bleeding, dislodge a suture, or even lead to dry socket, a painful condition. Keep your fingers and tongue away from the site as much as possible.
It is best to stick to soft foods requiring minimal chewing, such as applesauce, yogurt and pudding. Vitamin C and vitamin A help to support the healing process following a tooth extraction. Therefore, it is a good idea to eat foods rich in these nutrients.
Acidic foods tend to trigger a lot more saliva than sweet foods. If excess saliva bothers you, try changing your diet. If you have a lot of saliva all the time, tell your health-care provider. It could be the side effect of a medication or the result of a medical condition or disease.