7 Essential Tips to Stop Spitting When Speaking

Practice Tongue and Jaw Exercises

Regularly practicing tongue and jaw exercises can significantly improve your speech clarity and reduce spitting. Engaging in these exercises regularly helps strengthen and coordinate the muscles involved in speech production, leading to better control and articulation.

Tongue Exercises

• Tongue Twisters: Repeat tongue twisters like “She sells seashells by the seashore” to improve tongue dexterity and coordination.
• Tongue Stretching: Stick out your tongue and move it clockwise and counterclockwise for 10-15 repetitions to stretch the muscles and improve flexibility.
• Tongue Rolling: Roll your tongue into a ‘U’ shape and push it forward and backward, repeating 10-15 times to strengthen the tongue’s muscles.

Jaw Exercises

• Jaw Loosening: Open and close your jaw slowly and gently, repeating 10-15 times, to relax and loosen the jaw muscles.
• Jaw Side-to-Side: Move your jaw from side to side, holding it for a few seconds on each side, repeating 10-15 times to improve joint flexibility.
• Jaw Resistance: Place your fingers on your chin and push your jaw forward while resisting the pressure with your fingers. Repeat 10-15 times to strengthen the jaw muscles and prevent spitting.

Improve Hydration and Swallowing

Maintaining adequate hydration is crucial for preventing dry mouth, which can contribute to excessive saliva production. Aim to drink plenty of water and other fluids throughout the day, especially before and during speaking engagements. Avoid sugary drinks, as they can dehydrate the body and worsen saliva production.

In addition to staying hydrated, improving swallowing techniques can help reduce saliva production. When swallowing, try to keep your tongue pressed against the roof of your mouth and your throat relaxed. Avoid gulping air or holding your breath while speaking, as these actions can increase saliva buildup.

Advanced Strategies for Swallowing Control

If you continue to experience excessive saliva production despite improving hydration and swallowing techniques, consider the following advanced strategies:

Remember, persistent or severe spitting problems may indicate an underlying medical condition. If you do not experience improvement with the suggested strategies, consult a doctor or speech therapist for further evaluation and treatment.

Use Nasal Medications or Sprays

Nasal decongestants and sprays can help reduce mucus production and improve airflow in the nasal passages. This can prevent the buildup of saliva that leads to spitting. Over-the-counter decongestants like phenylephrine and oxymetazoline can be effective in temporarily alleviating congestion. Prescription nasal sprays such as fluticasone propionate and mometasone furoate may be necessary for more severe cases or those with allergies.

How to Use Nasal Medications or Sprays

1. Tilt your head back slightly and insert the nozzle of the spray into one nostril.
2. Inhale gently and spray the medication as instructed on the package.
3. Repeat the process in the other nostril.
4. Use the medication as directed by your doctor or pharmacist. Overuse can lead to rebound congestion and other side effects.

Here is a table summarizing the recommended usage of nasal medications and sprays:

Employ a Speech Therapist

Seeking professional guidance from a speech therapist can be highly beneficial for addressing spitting while speaking. These skilled individuals possess specialized knowledge in speech production and can provide tailored assessments to pinpoint the root causes of the problem. Speech therapists employ a range of evidence-based techniques to enhance articulation, muscle coordination, and breathing patterns. They offer personalized exercises and strategies to improve speech clarity and reduce saliva production.

Guided Practice Exercises

Speech therapists guide individuals through specific exercises designed to strengthen the muscles involved in speech production. These exercises may involve repeating certain sounds, phrases, or sentences to improve muscle coordination and control saliva flow. By practicing these exercises regularly, clients can gradually improve their articulation accuracy and minimize spitting.

Orthodontic Interventions

In some cases, underlying dental issues, such as misaligned teeth or a narrow palate, can contribute to spitting. Speech therapists may collaborate with orthodontists to address these concerns. Orthodontic treatments, such as braces or palate expanders, can help create a more favorable oral environment for speech production, reducing the risk of saliva projection.

Breathing Techniques

Proper breathing plays a crucial role in clear speech. Speech therapists may teach clients specific breathing techniques to regulate airflow and reduce the amount of saliva produced during speaking. Controlled breathing helps stabilize the vocal cords and minimizes the risk of excess saliva accumulation in the oral cavity.

Additional Strategies

In addition to the aforementioned techniques, speech therapists may recommend supplementary strategies to combat spitting:

Table: Additional Strategies

Avoid Certain Triggers

Identifying and avoiding situations or substances that trigger your excessive saliva production can help reduce the incidence of spitting when speaking. Here are some specific triggers to consider:

Salty or Spicy Foods

Consuming salty or spicy foods can stimulate saliva production. Limit your intake of these types of foods, especially before public speaking or important conversations.

Caffeine and Alcohol

Both caffeine and alcohol can dehydrate your mouth, leading to increased saliva production. Avoid consuming excessive amounts of these beverages before speaking.

Chewing Gum or Hard Candy

Chewing gum or hard candy can stimulate saliva flow. It’s best to avoid chewing these items when speaking to reduce the risk of spitting.

Smoking

Smoking can dry out your mouth, causing you to produce more saliva to compensate. Quitting smoking or reducing your consumption can help manage saliva levels.

Anxiety or Stress

Anxiety or stress can trigger increased saliva production. Practice relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or meditation, to help manage stress and reduce saliva levels.

Medications

Certain medications, including antipsychotics and certain antidepressants, can cause excessive saliva production as a side effect. Consult with your healthcare provider if you suspect medications may be contributing to your spitting.

Develop Mindful Speaking Habits

To effectively stop spitting while speaking, it’s crucial to cultivate mindful speaking habits. Here are seven essential strategies to help you achieve this:

1. Maintain a Relaxed Stance:

   Strive to speak from a position of relaxation and comfort to reduce tension and prevent saliva buildup.

2. Breathe Deeply:

   Inhale deeply and exhale slowly before speaking, ensuring an adequate supply of oxygen and reducing the urge to spit.

3. Slow Down Your Speech:

   Take your time when speaking, allowing sufficient space for each word to form clearly without expelling excessive saliva.

4. Articulate Clearly:

   Pay attention to the pronunciation and formation of each syllable, focusing on a crisp and articulate delivery that minimizes saliva buildup.

5. Use a Straw:

   If possible, sip on a straw or water bottle between sentences to stimulate saliva production and reduce the likelihood of spitting.

6. Tongue Placement:

   Keep your tongue positioned slightly behind your teeth, allowing air to flow through your mouth cleanly and preventing saliva from escaping.

7. Practice Humming:

   Humming exercises can strengthen the muscles around your mouth and throat, contributing to better control over saliva production and expulsion.

   Additional Tips to Consider
   Use a tissue or handkerchief to cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing.
   Rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash before speaking.
   Avoid sugary drinks and foods that can increase saliva production.

   Seek Medical Consultation

   If other treatments have proven ineffective, it may be necessary to consult a medical professional. They can evaluate your condition, determine the underlying cause, and recommend appropriate treatments. Medical interventions may include:

   1. Medication: Certain medications, such as anticholinergics, can help reduce saliva production.
   2. Surgery: In severe cases, surgery can be performed to remove or reposition salivary glands.
   3. Radiation Therapy: This treatment may be used to shrink salivary glands and reduce saliva production.
   4. Botox Injections: Botox can temporarily paralyze muscles in the salivary glands, reducing saliva production.

   Other Medical Interventions

   In addition to the above treatments, medical professionals may also recommend other interventions, such as:

   Intervention	Description
   Electrical Nerve Stimulation: This technique uses electrical impulses to stimulate nerves that control saliva production.
   Cranial Nerve Decompression: This surgery involves releasing pressure on nerves that control saliva production.
   Speech Therapy: A speech therapist can help you develop techniques to manage your saliva while speaking.

   Improve Oral Hygiene

   Maintaining good oral hygiene can significantly reduce saliva production and prevent spitting when speaking. Here are some specific steps to follow:

   1. Brush Your Teeth Regularly

   Brushing your teeth twice a day, especially in the morning and before bed, removes plaque and bacteria that can cause saliva buildup. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.

   2. Floss Daily

   Flossing helps remove plaque and food particles from between teeth, where brushing can’t reach. It helps prevent gum disease, which can also contribute to excessive saliva.

   3. Use Mouthwash

   Mouthwash helps kill bacteria that cause bad breath and reduce saliva production. Choose a mouthwash that contains fluoride or alcohol to enhance its effectiveness.

   4. Stay Hydrated

   Dehydration can lead to dry mouth, which can trigger saliva production. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to maintain hydration.

   5. Avoid Sugary Drinks and Foods

   Sugary substances stimulate saliva production. Limit your intake of sugary drinks, such as soda and juice, and opt for healthier options like water or unsweetened tea.

   6. Quit Smoking

   Smoking damages the salivary glands and reduces saliva production. Quitting smoking can help improve saliva flow and reduce spitting.

   7. Treat Underlying Medical Conditions

   Certain medical conditions, such as allergies, sinus infections, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), can cause excessive saliva production. Seek medical attention to address these underlying issues.

   8. Consider Saliva-Thickening Agents

   Over-the-counter saliva-thickening agents, such as carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), can help reduce saliva flow. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for guidance.

   9. Other Helpful Tips

   Here are additional tips to help minimize saliva production when speaking:

   Action	Reason
   Speak slowly and deliberately	This gives your body time to produce and control saliva.
   Take breaks while speaking	Pausing allows saliva to settle and prevents excessive spitting.
   Use a tissue or handkerchief	Gently blot your lips with a tissue to absorb excess saliva.
   Clear your throat before speaking	This helps remove excess saliva from your throat.

   Manage Stress

   Stress can lead to a host of physical and mental health problems, including increased salivation. When you’re stressed, your body goes into “fight or flight” mode, which triggers the release of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones can cause your heart rate and breathing to increase, your muscles to tense up, and your digestive system to slow down. They can also increase the production of saliva, which can lead to spitting when speaking.

   If you’re experiencing excessive salivation, it’s important to try to manage your stress levels. Here are a few tips:

   1. Identify your stressors. What situations or activities make you feel stressed?
   2. Develop coping mechanisms. Once you know what your stressors are, develop some healthy coping mechanisms to deal with them. This could involve talking to a friend or family member, exercising, listening to music, or reading.
   3. Practice relaxation techniques. Relaxation techniques can help to reduce stress levels and promote relaxation. Some popular relaxation techniques include deep breathing, meditation, and yoga.

   If self-help strategies don’t help to manage your stress, talk to a doctor. They may recommend medication or therapy to help you manage your stress levels.

   Tip	Description
   Identify your stressors	What situations or activities make you feel stressed?
   Develop coping mechanisms	Once you know what your stressors are, develop some healthy coping mechanisms to deal with them.
   Practice relaxation techniques	Relaxation techniques can help to reduce stress levels and promote relaxation.

   How to Stop Spitting When Speaking

   If you find yourself spitting when you speak, there are a few things you can do to stop. First, make sure you are well-hydrated. When you are dehydrated, your saliva becomes thicker and stickier, which can cause it to spit out when you talk. Drink plenty of water throughout the day, especially before speaking in public or giving a presentation.

   Second, try to speak more slowly and deliberately. When you speak too quickly, you may not have enough time to control the flow of your saliva. Slowing down your speech will give you more time to swallow your saliva before it can spit out.

   Third, try to avoid talking when you are feeling nervous or anxious. When you are nervous, your body produces more saliva, which can increase the likelihood of spitting. If you know that you are going to be speaking in a situation that makes you nervous, try to practice relaxation techniques beforehand to help reduce your anxiety levels.

   Finally, if you are still having trouble stopping spitting, you may want to see a speech therapist. A speech therapist can help you identify the cause of your spitting and develop strategies to help you control it.

   People Also Ask

   Why do I spit when I talk?

   There are a few reasons why you may spit when you talk. One reason is that you may be dehydrated. When you are dehydrated, your saliva becomes thicker and stickier, which can cause it to spit out when you talk. Another reason is that you may be speaking too quickly. When you speak too quickly, you may not have enough time to control the flow of your saliva. Finally, you may be spitting when you talk because you are nervous or anxious. When you are nervous, your body produces more saliva, which can increase the likelihood of spitting.

   How can I stop spitting when I talk?

   There are a few things you can do to stop spitting when you talk. First, make sure you are well-hydrated. Drink plenty of water throughout the day, especially before speaking in public or giving a presentation. Second, try to speak more slowly and deliberately. When you speak too quickly, you may not have enough time to control the flow of your saliva. Slowing down your speech will give you more time to swallow your saliva before it can spit out. Third, try to avoid talking when you are feeling nervous or anxious. If you know that you are going to be speaking in a situation that makes you nervous, try to practice relaxation techniques beforehand to help reduce your anxiety levels. Finally, if you are still having trouble stopping spitting, you may want to see a speech therapist. A speech therapist can help you identify the cause of your spitting and develop strategies to help you control it.

   What are some other causes of spitting?

   In addition to the reasons listed above, there are a few other things that can cause spitting. These include:
   – Allergies
   – Acid reflux
   – Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
   – Certain medications

   If you are experiencing spitting and are concerned about the underlying cause, it is important to see a doctor to rule out any underlying medical conditions.