Angie Arsenault said on January 19, 2012:

Marisa,

Thank-you for your question and for sharing your story.

Many singers come to me with questions about dry mouth and throat, but excessive saliva is not often addressed, though I’m quite sure you are not the only one concerned.

Excessive saliva can be the result of many factors, and it is possible that this is simply your body’s natural reaction. On the other hand, maybe there is something specific causing this such as acid reflux. Do you often have to clear your throat before singing?

Also, you could take note of the foods you eat just before singing. Are they too acidic? Are you eating too much of a big meal just before singing? Do you use an alcohol based mouth wash after brushing your teeth? Sometimes, the things that give dry mouth also cause the opposite as the body is trying hard to find a balance.

Maybe you are simply not drinking enough water…?

How is your posture during singing? Is this something you have addressed with your singing teacher? Perhaps the saliva isn’t draining properly…

So these are a few points to check to find out the cause and solution.

If the symptoms persist and are irritating, I would suggest seeing an ear-nose and throat specialist to assess the situation. For some people, this is just a normal reaction of the body, but in some cases, there may be an underlining condition that needs to be addressed.

I hope this helps you in your research.

Best to you,

Angie