How To Stop Spitting When Talking To Others

It happens to all of us ... but that doesn't mean it doesn't bring complete mortification. Whether you're talking to your work crush or giving a presentation, spit seems to find the worst moments to fly out of our mouths and completely disrupt otherwise pleasant conversations. And though it is a surefire way to make the juicy gossip you're spreading a little bit juicier, most would prefer to avoid the experience altogether.

Even big celebrities have trouble avoiding unexpected expectoration. Jonathan Groff went viral in 2020 following the release of the live "Hamilton" stage recording. Tremendous amounts of spit flew out of his mouth during the performance of his song, "You'll Be Back." The internet responded with endless memes, as memorialized by Buzzfeed.

Though a little spittle while talking is natural, there are steps you can take to minimize your risk of experiencing the embarrassing event. Here's everything you need to know.

In most cases, spitting while you speak is just an embarrassing bout of bad luck. You have no real cause for concern unless it becomes a very frequent problem or evolves into drooling. In these instances, according to Medical News Today, you may want to see a doctor and ask about hypersalivation. This condition, which causes excess saliva production, can be treated via therapies or medicine to prevent infections or softening of the skin. If you notice frequent disruptions to your speech or a reduced sense of taste, hypersalivation may be the culprit. 

The other medical cause of spitting while talking could be a speech impediment. Healthfully notes that lisps and other pronunciation problems can lead to the expulsion of spit from the mouth. Once again, speech difficulties can be managed through speech therapy.

Even if your saliva accidents are not related to a medical condition, there are still a few hacks you can use to reduce your risk of spit-talking.

Although spit can strike at any moment, researchers at Princeton University identified some of the most problematic consonant sounds that tend to trigger spitters. These "stop-consonants" include Ps and Bs, which cause the lips to quickly bounce off each other and potentially expel spit. "Denti-alveolar plosives" — like Ts and Ds — are not as explosive when pronounced but do produce excess saliva in the mouth when their sounds are formed.

This certainly does not mean that words containing these letters should be avoided altogether. However, being cautious of these sounds and taking care not to place too much emphasis on problem syllables can provide an extra hurdle for your spit to overcome.

TheraBreath also provides valuable lifestyle changes that could limit your issues with spit. They note that making a habit of swallowing before speaking will eliminate the saliva that builds up during the listening periods of a conversation. Finally, they note that cutting back on sugar could help as well, as the sweetness triggers increased saliva production.