Your spit is a surprisingly accurate gauge of what’s going on in your body. You make about 50 ounces of the stuff per day, and it serves tons of purposes, from maintaining gum health to preventing cavities to preventing tooth decay.
But it can also say a lot about what your body is going through. Here’s what your spit could be trying to tell you.
- If it tastes bitter…you may have acid reflux. This means that your stomach acid is bubbling up into your throat. Though you’d probably already be able to tell if you had this, since the main symptom is heartburn, it may be the reason behind your bitter saliva. You may also experience bad breath and nausea with it. Try not to eat as many spicy foods and see if that makes it go away.
- If it’s clumpy and cloudy…you may have an infection. One fungal infection called “thrush” can cause these symptoms. It’s common in diabetics, since too much sugar in your saliva can lead to yeast growth in your mouth. Go see your doctor about getting a mouthwash to kill this infection. If your mouth is too dry, it could cause clumpiness as well.
- If there isn’t enough of it…it might be your meds. A variety of over the counter and prescription medications have dry mouth as a side effect. It also becomes more common as you get older. Keep an eye out for it. Stay hydrated, and stay vigilant of your oral hygiene if you often find yourself with dry mouth.
- If there’s too much of it…you might be pregnant. Pregnant women often have an excess of saliva, enough that they often have to spit it into a container. There’s no danger here, just try chewing gum to keep all that extra saliva down.
- If it’s sticky…you’re probably a mouth breather. Try breathing through your nose as much as possible. Breathing through your mouth dries out saliva, which leaves you unprotected against bacteria and cavities. If mouth breathing is more of a necessity for you than a habit, go see a doctor about it.
