hi there,

this past week i visited my doc team for a quarterly exame and one of them reminded me to as i say, 'pump saliva'

i had radiation 2 yrs ago and it has reduced my saliva output... which the doc examined by massaging them to see the fluid quantity/quality.
what we saw was one side is essentially nonfunctional but the other has some thick saliva production. the concern is that the thick saliva will clog the tubes and this one will also stop production.

to increase the likelyhood of good saliva production, the doc again showed me how to gently press on the soft tissue beneath my jaw bone, and press the fluid up and out the duct. basically massaging from below to above the jawbone with a sweeping motion from the ear towards the front of my mouth... i can get a bit of fluid out and hopefully this will (a) keep the duct clear and (b) help stimulate more production.

if you have reduced saliva production, ask your doc if this massaging can help you.

i also wonder who else has tried this?

smiling and rubbing my jaw,
lookout, sometimes i even spit.
cu,
larryb

Larryb,

I have been advised to do the same thing...it doesn't feel great (it down right hurts on the bad side)and I don't always remember. Shame on me!
My doctor wants to avoid infections that would lead to him removing them...then I'd be even dryer. Although he did say when he does the radical he removes the sub mandibular glands, too.

So I am swimming in that smae boat. At least I'm in good company.

Take care,
Dinah