Patient's question:
My mom hasn't been able to cook recently and often says she feels dizzy and has a headache. The thing is, I don't really know what's going on, but she just seems a bit off, mentally. How do you treat eye tearing after Bell's palsy?Doctor's answer:
If eye infection is ruled out, since the facial paralysis has been present for a long time, drooling while eating could be one of the sequelae of facial paralysis, known as "crocodile tears." The cause is due to incorrect repair of nerve damage. Some fibers of the facial nerve are responsible for tear secretion, while others control saliva secretion. If there is incorrect repair, the nerve fibers that control saliva secretion may regenerate into the lacrimal glands, leading to tears every time you eat.