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May 6, 2010 2:58 PM
I spit when I talk. I think I spit more than other people.
Maybe this is just serious selfconsciousness, but I think I have excessive saliva, and as a result I spit when I talk.
Part of the reason I think this is that, when I was in my mid-20s I got braces, and the orthodontist gave me a little pill to take before having them put in. The pill is supposed to dry out your mouth to make it easier to stick in the braces. I took the pill as ordered, but then the orthodontist told me off for not taking it, because I still had lots of saliva.
Recently I've noticed it more, enough that it is a bit embarrassing and I probably wind up drawing more attention to it than it warrants.
So is it just me or do lots of people feel selfconscious about spraying people when they talk? If it's not, I guess I should ask my doctor but it's probably a "learn to live with it" thing. What other tricks could I try?
Maybe this is just serious selfconsciousness, but I think I have excessive saliva, and as a result I spit when I talk.
Part of the reason I think this is that, when I was in my mid-20s I got braces, and the orthodontist gave me a little pill to take before having them put in. The pill is supposed to dry out your mouth to make it easier to stick in the braces. I took the pill as ordered, but then the orthodontist told me off for not taking it, because I still had lots of saliva.
Recently I've noticed it more, enough that it is a bit embarrassing and I probably wind up drawing more attention to it than it warrants.
So is it just me or do lots of people feel selfconscious about spraying people when they talk? If it's not, I guess I should ask my doctor but it's probably a "learn to live with it" thing. What other tricks could I try?
I get spit on a lot. And I tend to spit a lot. I think it must be very common. I am pretty self conscious about all my spitting. But ask your doctor, there may be some help.
posted by fifilaru at 4:19 PM on May 6, 2010
posted by fifilaru at 4:19 PM on May 6, 2010
I notice myself getting spit on about once per conversation. You can try to lay off on your more explosive consonants (P, B, T) to see if it helps- just don't enunciate them as hard so you won't create such forceful jets of spit-propelling air. That's what voiceover artists do to avoid making popping sounds on the microphone when voicing plosive sounds.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 4:23 PM on May 6, 2010
posted by pseudostrabismus at 4:23 PM on May 6, 2010
I tend to do this when I'm talking in a particularly animated way. It might be worth practising talking in front of a mirror, to help you identify what sounds / circumstances make it worse, and then working on those particular things. Phatkitten's suggestion of seeing a speech therapist may help if it's "whenever I talk".
If I do spray someone during conversation, I tend to acknowledge it immediately - "oh my god, I just spat on you, I'm so sorry!" and carry on with the conversation. Acknowledging it makes it okay for the person you're speaking to to wipe your saliva off their face and move on - and makes it clear that you're aware of it and that you realise that it's not pleasant. Not acknowledging it makes it more difficult for your conversation partner - they can't wipe it off without appearing rude, and it's very difficult to concentrate on the conversation when you've got someone else's saliva sitting on your cheek! (I'm British so maybe this is just down to the infamous British reserve, but it works for me)
posted by finding.perdita at 7:02 PM on May 6, 2010
If I do spray someone during conversation, I tend to acknowledge it immediately - "oh my god, I just spat on you, I'm so sorry!" and carry on with the conversation. Acknowledging it makes it okay for the person you're speaking to to wipe your saliva off their face and move on - and makes it clear that you're aware of it and that you realise that it's not pleasant. Not acknowledging it makes it more difficult for your conversation partner - they can't wipe it off without appearing rude, and it's very difficult to concentrate on the conversation when you've got someone else's saliva sitting on your cheek! (I'm British so maybe this is just down to the infamous British reserve, but it works for me)
posted by finding.perdita at 7:02 PM on May 6, 2010
Is this a Seinfeld episode?
Really, this probably is not something that is that easy to change. You learned how to talk etc. decades ago and to fix such a learned behavior as an adult is going to be tough. Be conscious as you speak, similarly to being conscious of proper diction. It is about the same thing. A diction coach may be of help.
posted by caddis at 7:13 PM on May 6, 2010
Really, this probably is not something that is that easy to change. You learned how to talk etc. decades ago and to fix such a learned behavior as an adult is going to be tough. Be conscious as you speak, similarly to being conscious of proper diction. It is about the same thing. A diction coach may be of help.
posted by caddis at 7:13 PM on May 6, 2010
Some people do indeed have more saliva than others. I'm one of them. I didn't realize that until my dentist once told me I had a "juicy mouth." (It was perfectly wholesome when he said it - but in print here it looks dirty.) Since then, I've been told the same thing by another dentist and a doctor. It improved after my tonsils were removed in my late teens, but I'm still a big drooler and sprayer.
There can be medical conditions and medications that bring this on, and asking a doctor would be a good idea. Sinus trouble can really affect the amount of saliva your mouth produces and how effectively you can swallow as well - so you might see some improvement if you keep any allergies under better control. Most likely you're stuck with it, but it's possible that you could get some relief.
I have found, maybe counter-intuitively, that drinking more fluids keeps the saliva a little more under control. I also am a little less likely to spray people if I keep my chin lifted slightly as I speak. Swallowing before speaking obviously helps, but it's not something you're likely to think of when you're in the middle of a conversation.
posted by Dojie at 7:53 PM on May 6, 2010
There can be medical conditions and medications that bring this on, and asking a doctor would be a good idea. Sinus trouble can really affect the amount of saliva your mouth produces and how effectively you can swallow as well - so you might see some improvement if you keep any allergies under better control. Most likely you're stuck with it, but it's possible that you could get some relief.
I have found, maybe counter-intuitively, that drinking more fluids keeps the saliva a little more under control. I also am a little less likely to spray people if I keep my chin lifted slightly as I speak. Swallowing before speaking obviously helps, but it's not something you're likely to think of when you're in the middle of a conversation.
posted by Dojie at 7:53 PM on May 6, 2010
Like finding.perdita I find this happens more when I'm excited and talking quickly or loudly, and only very rarely have it occur when talking in a normal, controlled fashion. No medication or curious dental history here, just an excess of saliva.
I also have have the same experience as Dojie whereby drinking helps control it too, so a glass of water always accompanies me to meetings and I sip before and during talking at length. When in face-to-face conversation, I also turn my head a fraction so I'm not going to be spraying the person opposite me. Other than that, good manners and a simply "whoops, sorry about that!" should I accidentally drool on people has served me well over the years.
posted by kuriyama at 2:27 AM on May 7, 2010
I also have have the same experience as Dojie whereby drinking helps control it too, so a glass of water always accompanies me to meetings and I sip before and during talking at length. When in face-to-face conversation, I also turn my head a fraction so I'm not going to be spraying the person opposite me. Other than that, good manners and a simply "whoops, sorry about that!" should I accidentally drool on people has served me well over the years.
posted by kuriyama at 2:27 AM on May 7, 2010
It might be worth practising talking in front of a mirror
If you do this, you can also see how much you are actually spitting. Be sure to wipe the mirror after each practice session.
posted by CathyG at 9:00 AM on May 7, 2010
If you do this, you can also see how much you are actually spitting. Be sure to wipe the mirror after each practice session.
posted by CathyG at 9:00 AM on May 7, 2010
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I'm not self conscious, I don't think it's that hard to stop spitting myself. I'm a smoker and I spit all the time. My life's in a bit of a rut atm, I don't really care what people think of me so spitting doesn't bother me at all. I can't stand the taste of tobacco in my mouth so I spit, I also spit more when I'm angry. I'd have to say I spit over 100 times a day hahaha that's a lot of spiting.
Herd plenty of times it's disgusting and all that, never did care about them people anyway and if they spat I wouldn't care as long as they didn't spray me.
I'll stop when it suites me I guess.
It'd have to be an Einstein theory of relativity thing... what doesn't bother me bothers other...
You'll figure it out.
Just don't spray people and swallow around attractive girls and if front of your mom :P
posted by Bacillus at 3:57 PM on May 6, 2010