In a nutshell
After an injury to the facial nerve, unusually heavy tearing can occur while chewing or eating. This so-called crocodile tears syndrome is a physical misconnection and says nothing about emotion.
Why does it happen?
During healing, autonomic nerve fibers may regrow along the wrong path. Signals that normally activate the salivary glands in connection with eating then reach the lacrimal gland. A taste or chewing stimulus consequently triggers one-sided or increased tear flow.
Frequency
Meal-related tearing caused by misdirected nerve regeneration is rare. Findings from groups with facial nerve injury cannot be generalized to the whole population.
Frequency is a qualitative description, not your individual probability.
Is it normal?
A known, stable pattern after facial nerve injury is usually not an emergency, but it can be treated.
When to seek advice
New one-sided tearing should be examined; acute facial paralysis or other neurological deficits require immediate medical assessment.
Does this happen to you?
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Sources (1)
- Krokodilstränensyndrom – StatPearls (opens a new tab)
This source supports the description and physiological context of this entry.
Editorial update: . AI-assisted research and editing; not individually reviewed by a physician. How we research
