Salivary Gland Problems

The salivary glands are one of the most important glands in the human body. They help in the production of saliva in the mouth. The saliva helps to moisten the food while eating and helps in swallowing the food. It also avoids dryness in the mouth while speaking. The saliva contains antibodies that help in killing the germs and also help in food digestion process.

There are three types of salivary glands as follows:
• Parotid Glands: These glands are located on the sides of the face
• Submandibular Glands: They are located at the bottom of the mouth
• Sublingual Glands: These glands are located under the tongue
The malfunctioning of these glands leads to several salivary gland problems. Following are some of the commonly detected salivary gland problems:
• Sialolithiasis
• Sialadenitis
• Viral Infections
• Cysts
Some of the tumours like the malignant and benign are also known for the salivary gland problem.
Causes of Salivary Gland Problems:
Following are some of the causes of salivary gland problem:
• Salivary stones
• Salivary gland infection
• Infections
• Cysts
The tumors and other autoimmune diseases are also some of the major causes of salivary gland problems.
Symptoms of Salivary Gland Problems:
Following are some of the symptoms of salivary gland problems:
• Bad smelling of the mouth
• Swelling of the salivary glands
• Frequent dryness in the mouth
• Foul tasting
• Difficulty in opening the mouth
• Severe pain in the mouth
The patient may also suffer from high fever and purulent discharge from the mouth.
Diagnosis of Salivary Gland Problems:
The diagnosis depends upon the patient’s medical history, physical examination and different laboratory tests. Following are some of the diagnosis tests for salivary gland problem:
• Dental x-rays
• CT scan
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Needle aspiration biopsy
• Lip biopsy
The salivary gland biopsy, salivary function test, eye test, and sialography are the other tests for the diagnosis of salivary gland problems.
Treatments for Salivary Gland Problem:
The treatments of salivary gland problem are based upon the stage at which the problem is detected. Following are some of the treatments for salivary gland problems:
• Sialothiasis
• Sialadenitis
• Treatments on the viral infections
• Treatment on cysts
• Treatments on benign or malignant tumour
The treatments like sialadenosis and different medications are also used for the treatment of salivary gland problems.
Preventions for Salivary Gland Problems:
Following are some of the preventive measures for the salivary gland problems:
• Avoid smoking of tobacco
• Eat healthy and hygienic diet
• Drink eight to ten glasses of water every day
• Practice good oral hygiene
The salivary gland is one of the important organs of the human body. The malfunctioning of this organ can lead to several other body disorders. Thus, one must take proper precautions to avoid any salivary gland problems.