Hi, I had a partial hemiglossectomy with neck dissection on Aug. 15, and since have had excessive saliva. I was wondering when this will calm down, because it further impedes my speech and is very frustrating when trying to eat as well. Everyone heals at their own rate, but I was wondering if someone could give me a time frame. THNXS!

Hello Pamela

THe salivary glands make more saliva after a wound in the mouth like the surgery is. Just keep swallowing the saliva best you can. Wounds take a minimum of 2-3 weeks to heal. Things will improve further as time passes.

If you subsequently have radiotherapy, it can affect the saliva glands and so affect the quality (become stringy) and quantity (becomes less) of saliva you have, but there are ways to cope.

Best wishes
Vinod

Hi Pamela and Dr Joshi, I had RT after squeamous cell and I have lack of saliva problems. After much searching the nearest I've come to sorting it out is with chewing gum during the day and at night Biotene gel. The gum does seem to promote saliva production a bit. Regards, Hagg.