Although you may not have come across the term before, it may be something you’ve unintentionally done at some point in your lif
Despite it being a natural phenomenon, some people consider it disgusting or embarrassing.
Before diving into gleeking, let’s break down why it happens.
There are three major salivary glands: the parotid glands (in front of and below your ears), sublingual glands (right below your tongue), and submandibular glands (below your jaw).
According to Health, gleeking occurs when your tongue applies pressure to the glands under your tongue that make saliva.
Saliva is important, as the Cleveland Clinic explains: “It kickstarts digestion, helps you chew and swallow food, and protects your teeth.”
The unique way of spitting normally happens accidentally when you eat, talk, or yawn.
Although most healthcare providers will have heard of it, it has no official medical term and it’s basically ‘pretty useless.’
As it is purposeless, you’ll probably only use the unusual talent to disgust your friends or get a few laughs.
Still, if you’re curious, there is a way to try to do it on command.
Steven Morgano, DMD, chair of the Department of Restorative Dentistry at the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, and Mark S. Wolff, DDS, Ph.D., dean of the School of Dental Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, have helped share four steps.
Firstly, Dr. Wolff advises eating something sour, as evidence suggests foods such as tart cherries, kimchi, or vinegar, can stimulate the salivary glands. wikiHow also advises you to drink some water to moisturize your mouth.
Next, push your tongue out of your mouth and lift it. Then curl the tongue back so it rests behind your top teeth.
