Question 1

why is my saliva so extremely sticky?!

Accepted Answer

See below: Most commonly this is a side effect of medications but other conditions such as thyroid disease, diabetes, and sjogren's can affect saliva quality and quanity.

Question 2

when i awake in the morning, my saliva is discolored and very thick. why?

Accepted Answer

Morning saliva: Thick saliva in the morning could be related to medications, not enough hydration before you go to sleep, nighttime stress, mouth breathing, etc. There is generally less saliva production over night.  Make sure you brush and floss well before bedtime and see your dentist for regular dental check ups.

Question 3

does thick saliva indicate anything bad?

Accepted Answer

Thick saliva: It may be that your mouth is dry from not drinking enough fluids, from medications you are taking, or from a metabolic problem such as diabetes.  Try drinking enough water to keep your urine very light in color, review any medication's side effects, and if the sensation continues, see your doctor for further evaluation.

Question 4

what is the definition or description of: thick saliva?

Accepted Answer

Thick saliva: Thick saliva = increased viscosity of mucus.

Question 5

while running why does my saliva gets sticky?

Accepted Answer

See below: You are likely breathing heavily when running which can dry your mouth out.  You may also be dehydrated which can lead to a dry mouth.  Be sure to drink plenty of water before and after all workouts.

Question 6

why does sugar cause thick saliva?

Accepted Answer

Hypertonic: Like the spoonful of sugar that makes the medicine go down. Lyric from the Sound of Music.
Sugar draws water to it.  It thickens and becomes less granular. Hence hypertonic. Mucous contains water therefore it thickens when it encounters sugar.

Question 7

thick, stringy saliva comes out when i sleep. is this normal?

Accepted Answer

Thick saliva: Is that a recent situation or you have been going through this situation for a while? Have you ever been diagnosed with sleep apnea ? And if it is something recent are you getting over a cold or throat infection? Excessive viscous mucus could accompany disorders of the breathing passages or respiratory tract disorders.

Question 8

thick yellow saliva in morning when wake up; 54 year old woman?

Accepted Answer

Possibly Mucus: If your saliva is thick, there is mucus within, possibly you're a mouth breather with sinus congestion.  You may want to consider seeing an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, throat physician), if your sinus has been a problem.
You could also try nasal saline rinse (neti pot) prior to going to bed to clean and rinse your sinus and see if this helps.

Question 9

do allergies make u have thick saliva?

Accepted Answer

Not usually: Environmental allergies can lead to copious mucus from the nose and eye watering, but typically do not affect saliva.  Food allergies can lead to mouth itching, tingling and swelling but again, do not typically affect the consistency of saliva.

Question 10

i've been getting thick saliva when i wake up for months now, sometimes its brown.  i drink plenty of water too so that can't be it.

Accepted Answer

Maybe regurgitation?: GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)=stuff (whether acid or not) regurgitates back into esophagus due to inappropriate relaxation of lower esophageal sphincter, impaired esophageal function (peristalsis), inadequate saliva, gastric outlet narrowing, gastroparesis, small bowel pathology, etc. Is quite common--see other HealthTap answers how to control this &amp; prevent its consequences if untreated.

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Doctor answers about:

Thick sticky saliva

A member asked:

Why is my saliva so extremely sticky?!

A member asked:

When i awake in the morning, my saliva is discolored and very thick. why?

A member asked:

Does thick saliva indicate anything bad?

A member asked:

What is the definition or description of: thick saliva?

A member asked:

While running why does my saliva gets sticky?

A member asked:

Why does sugar cause thick saliva?

A member asked:

Thick, stringy saliva comes out when i sleep. is this normal?

A member asked:

Thick yellow saliva in morning when wake up; 54 year old woman?

A member asked:

Do allergies make u have thick saliva?

A member asked:

I've been getting thick saliva when i wake up for months now, sometimes its brown. i drink plenty of water too so that can't be it.

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