What makes people gleek? The science behind that surprising squirt of saliva

September 29, 2025 •

2 min read

An estimated 35% of people experience accidental gleeking. What makes people gleek is a fascinating combination of involuntary muscle movement and glandular pressure, resulting in a surprising squirt of saliva from under the tongue. This article delves into the physiological mechanisms behind this unique bodily function.

Quick Summary

Gleeking happens when a buildup of saliva in the submandibular gland is forcefully expelled, either accidentally or intentionally, due to pressure from the tongue. This can occur during common actions like yawning or eating, or be deliberately induced through specific tongue movements.

Key Points

Origin of the Gleek: Saliva is ejected from the submandibular salivary glands, located under the jaw and tongue.
Pressure from the Tongue: The key to gleeking is the compression of these glands by the tongue, forcing the saliva out of Wharton's ducts.
Accidental vs. Intentional: Gleeking can happen unintentionally during actions like yawning, or be induced deliberately with practice.
Practice is Required: Only a small percentage of people can gleek on command, with deliberate gleeking requiring learned muscle control.
Rarely a Health Issue: Occasional gleeking is not concerning, but persistent hypersalivation can rarely indicate an underlying medical condition.
Saliva Stimulation: Generating more saliva, often with sour foods or yawning, increases the likelihood of a gleek.

The Surprising Mechanism Behind Gleeking

Gleeking is the act of projecting a stream of saliva from the submandibular salivary glands when they are compressed by the tongue. It can be a spontaneous occurrence or a learned skill.

The Anatomy of the Gleek

Gleeking involves the submandibular salivary glands, located under the jawline. These glands produce a mix of watery and mucous saliva that exits through Wharton's ducts under the tongue. Pressure on these glands, often from the tongue, forces the saliva out. The size of the duct opening can influence the force of the stream. The other major salivary glands are the parotid and sublingual glands.

The Accidental Gleek

Unintentional gleeking is common and not a health concern. It often happens during activities that inadvertently compress the submandibular glands, such as yawning, eating, talking, or cleaning teeth.

The Intentional Gleek: A Learned Skill

While many can gleek accidentally, only a small percentage can do it on demand. Intentional gleeking requires practicing specific tongue movements to build and release pressure on the submandibular glands. Stimulating saliva production beforehand can help.

Gleeking vs. Spitting: A Comparison


Feature	Gleeking	Spitting
Source	Submandibular salivary glands	Lungs and mouth
Mechanism	Pressure from the tongue on the glands	Forced expulsion of air and saliva using throat and mouth muscles
Voluntary Control	Often accidental; intentional requires practice	Largely voluntary and conscious
Appearance	A concentrated jet or stream of saliva	More of a spray or glob of saliva
Effort	Relies on internal pressure and muscle coordination	Utilizes muscle contractions and lung pressure

Can Gleeking Indicate a Health Issue?

Occasional gleeking is normal. However, persistent and uncontrollable excessive saliva production (hypersalivation) can rarely be a symptom of certain medical conditions. These can include effects of some medications, neurological conditions, GERD, or infections. If you have concerns about excessive gleeking, consult a healthcare professional. Read more on saliva's role in oral health from the Cleveland Clinic.

Conclusion

Gleeking is a normal and harmless bodily function resulting from the anatomy of the submandibular salivary glands and tongue pressure. Whether accidental or intentional, it's a unique aspect of human physiology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Gleeking is the act of projecting a stream of saliva from the submandibular gland located under the tongue. It happens when pressure is applied to the gland, causing saliva to be forcefully ejected from its duct.

Yes, it is completely normal. Most people experience accidental gleeking at some point, often during a yawn or when eating. It is a harmless physiological quirk.

When you yawn, the muscles in your jaw and tongue move in a way that can inadvertently put pressure on the submandibular salivary glands, compressing them and causing a squirt of saliva.

For most people, no. Occasional, unintentional gleeking is not a health concern. However, if it is persistent and accompanied by excessive saliva production (hypersalivation), it could be linked to an underlying condition, and you should consult a doctor.

No, not everyone can. While many can gleek accidentally, only a small percentage of the population can do it on demand. It requires learning specific tongue movements to apply the right pressure.

To learn to gleek intentionally, first stimulate your salivary glands (e.g., with sour candy or by yawning) to build up saliva. Then, practice moving your tongue in a specific motion to apply pressure to the gland, ejecting the saliva.

No. While both involve ejecting saliva, gleeking is a stream propelled by glandular pressure under the tongue, whereas typical spitting uses air from the lungs and mouth muscles for a more forceful expulsion.