Why do I have excessive saliva?

It’s totally normal to have more saliva while you’re pregnant. It’s called ptyalism, or sialorrhea, and the condition won’t affect your baby.

Normally, your salivary glands produce about 1 1/2 quarts of saliva a day, but you don’t realize it because you swallow! If you suddenly seem to have a lot more saliva in your mouth now that you’re pregnant, you actually may be producing more or swallowing less – or a combination of the two. Your excessive saliva might be a result of hormonal changes, nausea (which causes more saliva production) or heartburn, since the acid in your stomach can irritate your esophagus and triggers your salivary glands to produce more.

Some hacks to producing less saliva include brushing your teeth + using mouthwash several times a day, eating small, well-balanced meals, drinking plenty of water and sucking on hard candy or chewing gum.