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Saliva Management

Introduction | Profile of Saliva | Drooling | Dry Mouth | Altered secretions | Social Implications | Case Studies | Current Research | Glossary

What can be done for Tracey and her mother? - Drooling Scenario

It is important for both Tracey and her mother to attend an initial assessment with a speech pathologist. Further sessions may later be recommended or a home program developed. The speech pathologist may recommend several management strategies for Tracey as well as providing informational counselling to Tracey and her mother. Initially, an assessment would be conducted to identify the nature and severity of the drooling. Several steps can then be taken in an attempt to improve the drooling. A daily behavioural learning program could be suitable for Tracey. This would require either Tracey's mother or other family member, friend or someone at Tracey's school to commit time to implementing management techniques into Tracey's daily routine.

The Speech pathologist may attempt some oral-facial facilitation, eg. working on head and neck positioning, tongue and lip control and strengthening. Sensory stimulation of her lips or cheeks could also be attempted eg using vibration to stimulate the muscles around her mouth.

Tracey may be a suitable candidate for the implementation of an intraoral appliance. See 'Drooling- Management- Appliances' section for further details.

The speech pathologist can also provide compensatory strategies, such as wearing a section of towelling on her clothes rather than a bib to avoid social awkwardness. This may improve the social impact that the drooling is having on Tracey and her mother. See 'Drooling- Management' section for further details.

Maintaining good oral hygiene will be important for eliminating the chance of caries due to saliva loss- such as regular brushing and flossing.

If these attempts have little or no improvement, a referral to a specialist clinic (such as the RCH- Saliva Control Clinic, Melbourne Australia) may be necessary. If necessary, they may prescribe medication or perhaps surgery as a means of improving the drooling.