Saliva

[Jbird]

I have a problem after I have been playing for a half hour or better with my saliva getting "Sticky" and it seems to make the reed stick to the mouthpiece which of course causes sound problems as well as being very difficult to play. Any thoughts or comments?

[Jazzed]

You might be getting dehydrated, so try drinking water. I always make sure to have lots of water available when I play. I bring my own water to gigs because I cannot wait for a busy bartender when I'm thirsty.

[Tenorsaxer]

I always keep a glass of water by me when I practice.

[Kosma]

Me too.

[Bloo Dog]

Get checked for diabetes. If your blood sugar level remains elevated for extended periods of time, the sugar will find its way into your saliva. It can leave your saliva thick and gummy and make you feel thirsty all of the time.

Diabetes ain't fun; it often masks as something else.It may take several tests for your doctor to make a diagnosis.

If you are often extremely thirsty, sweat a lot, experience unexplained rapid weight gain, have headaches, experience rapid heart beat, experience frequent bouts of jitteriness as if you need to eat, or are susceptible to fungal infections, depression and fatigue, you are a likely candidate.

Compounding the problem are the following factors: infrequent exercise; a high-carbohydrate diet; frequent alcohol consumption; a family history of diabetes; being overweight; being subject to relentless stress on the job or at home (stress elevates the blood sugar as part of the instinctive fight-or-flight response to threatening and stressful environments).