A question was asked that a singing student has excessive saliva that interrupts her singing. How can this be solved?
Are you using a lot of flourides? Anticavity mouthwash, flouride gelcams? These can cause excessive saliva.
Excess saliva is frequently a symptom of acid reflux– saliva is basic and it’s the body’s mechanism to neutralize the upward acidic reflux– to coat the esophagus from acid damage.
To test whether it is acid reflux, try taking a off-the-counter proton inhibitor, such as Prilosec, for two weeks, and see what happens. During this time, also test for other acid reflux symptoms (search web–many of these). If such symptoms and excessive saliva stop, chances are excellent the problem is acid reflux.
If it is acid reflux, proton inhibitors are a relatively safe drug– patients have taken it daily for over 10 years. Also, it is documented that for patients with acid reflux, proton inhibitors can help them sing significantly better (because of reduced effects of acid reflux). I am not a physician, obviously, so you should see a physician to confirm any self-tests.
Another question was raised are there other remedies than proton inhibitors. Yes there are; I will describe these one day much later.
There is still another solution to excessive saliva. The excessive saliva problem, as it relates to singing, is generally not one of production, but one of drainage. As long as the saliva drains out quickly, the mouth can move freely, without having to swallow to rid of saliva. Recognizing the singing issue as a fast drainage challenge, the answer is simple (yet difficult to continously implement)– straighten the head so that the saliva naturally flows down the esophagus faster. One doesn’t have to swallow if one’s head is properly allowing drainage such that the saliva doesn’t accumulte.
This drainage solution has its challenges. How does one align one’s head straight such that it doesn’t cause strains on throat and mouth muscles, the strain of which will impact singing?
This is what VocalPosture.com attempts to answer–how to create a relaxed posture that enhances singing–and at the same time solve the excess saliva issue.
10-15-12 I’ve straightened my head posture significantly, and saliva drainage definitely is much better (faster).
Chen Sun
www.WebAndNet.com
www.WebBIZcard.com
Singing and posture--see Categories, About, Launch 4-2014 