Eating,  Swallowing and Saliva Management Some people with Parkinson’s may find they have difficulties with eating,  swallowing and saliva control at some stage of their journey with Parkinson’s. 

Parkinson’s can cause the muscles in the jaw and face to become stiff which affects the control of chewing and swallowing. 

Another symptom of Parkinson’s can be producing excessive saliva.  The stiffer facial muscles can change the nature of saliva,  which may become thicker and stickier. 

Coughing when eating or drinking Gurgly sounding voice Difficulty swallowing certain foods,  fluids or medications Meals taking longer to finish than usual Unexplained weight loss Repeated chest infections Beverages needed to wash down food Drooling Inability to clear food from the mouth Choking on foods,  liquids or saliva Loss of appetite A person with dysphagia is at risk of weight loss,  malnutrition,  and dehydration.  Dysphagia can also result in food or drink 'going down the wrong way' which can lead to chest infections and sometimes pneumonia.  Dysphagia can impact on quality of life as the person affected may not enjoy eating,  feel embarrassed and become anxious about eating.  Swallowing difficulties may also make it more difficult to take your medication. 

Useful tips Strategies to overcome swallowing problems include:

Ask your GP for a referral to see a Speech Pathologist who will assist with exercises to strengthen swallow and reduce difficulties created by saliva.  They may recommend some changes to your diet or consistency of food and fluid,  to make it safer to swallow Sit up straight when eating and drinking Take small mouthfuls and sips Have one sip of drink at a time Reduce distractions and avoid talking whilst chewing and swallowing Be alert to fever and coughs and seek help immediately when they occur Eat and drink during your medication 'on' period Saliva Management Saliva is necessary for digestion.  It lubricates the throat to make swallowing easier and contains chemicals that break down food.  Saliva also assists with oral hygiene as saliva helps break down plaque.  Some people with Parkinson’s develop problems controlling their saliva,  which can lead to drooling or dribbling.  The medical term for this is sialorrhea.  Research shows that this can affect more than half of people with Parkinson’s.