Why do I dribble saliva when I'm on a telephone call?

I'm 81, and when I'm talking, especially on the phone, I have excess saliva, which runs out of the corner of one side of my mouth, though often I'm not aware of it.

- Dr Rosemary Leonard

Q I'm on edoxaban as I have atrial fibrillation, and a steroid inhaler for bronchiectasis (which I'm hardly aware of) plus a statin, but I feel well, so I don't know why this is happening. Have you any suggestions?

A Drooling of saliva can be due to producing too much saliva, problems with swallowing, or an inability to keep saliva in the mouth.

We all usually produce between 0.75 and 1.5 litres of saliva a day, with production being stimulated when we smell or taste foods. Increased saliva production can be due to inflammation in the mouth, often from problems with the teeth, or ill-fitting dentures, and also from acid reflux from the stomach.

Occasionally medications can be to blame, but you are not taking any of the common culprits, such as tranquillisers or drugs for epilepsy. However, from what you have said, I suspect your difficulty is keeping saliva in your mouth, which may be due to having your mouth constantly open (which may be happening when you are talking), a blocked nose, poor alignment of teeth, or problems with the muscles that control your lips and speech.

Clearly the problem is embarrassing for you, and you should seek medical help. I suggest you see your dentist first, who can check for any problems with your teeth or gums, and if these are not to blame, then see your GP.

Investigation and treatment of this type of problem is often best done by a team of specialists, who can offer a combination of both medication and special exercises which can usually stop the drooling.