What Causes Salivary Gland Infections?
Medically reviewed by Edmund Khoo, DDS
Salivary glands make saliva and help with digestion. Anyone can develop swollen salivary glands, which could be a sign of a blockage, infection, or something more serious. About one in 100,000 Americans develop swelling as a result of salivary gland cancers.
This article will explore the causes, risk factors, and treatments of salivary gland swelling.
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Salivary Gland Function
Salivary glands make a fluid called saliva that moistens your mouth and helps break down food. Saliva also contains antibodies that help keep your mouth clean and free of infection.
Related: What Are the 5 Types of Antibodies?
Types of Glands
The three major pairs of salivary glands in your mouth are:
Parotid glands: Located in each cheek, above the jaw, and in front of the ears
Submandibular glands: Located on each side of the lower jaw
Sublingual glands: Located just under your tongue
Salivary Gland Disorders
Salivary glands that aren't working properly can cause problems ranging from cavities to severe swelling and infection. Some common salivary gland disorders are:
Obstruction (small stones that prevent the flow of saliva)
Infection
Tumors
Learn More: The Anatomy of Salivary Glands
Clogged Salivary Duct Causes
Obstruction is one of the major causes of infection in the salivary glands. The glands produce saliva, which moves through a small tunnel—or duct—between the gland and your mouth. These ducts are very small and can become blocked by things like:
Mucus buildup
Inflammation (sialdentitis)
Foreign objects
Abnormal cell growth from cancer
Scar tissue
Buildup of minerals (sialolithiasis)
Once the duct is clogged, the flow of saliva may slow or stop, which can cause swelling, inflammation, and pain, and lead to infection. Impaired saliva flow can also dry your mouth out, making you more prone to developing cavities.
Risk Factors
Some people are at a higher risk of developing salivary gland blockages. Risk factors include:
Poor oral hygiene
Dehydration
Smoking
Alcohol use
Chronic diseases
Autoimmune disease
Gout (a painful form of inflammatory arthritis)
Use of certain medications like diuretics (rid the body of salt and water) and anticholinergics (block the action of a type of neurotransmitter)
History of radiation therapy to the head and neck
Related: Causes and Risk Factors of Oral Cancer
Symptoms of an Infection
Symptoms of a salivary gland infection are not limited to pain and swelling.
Signs of a salivary duct infection can also include:
A bad taste in your mouth
Trouble opening your mouth all the way
Dry mouth
Fever
A feeling that your mouth is being squeezed, especially while chewing
Redness on the side of your face or neck
Swelling, especially in front of your ears and below your jaw
Learn More: Types of Mouth Infections and How to Treat Them
Diagnosis
Your healthcare provider will begin to look for the cause of your symptoms by asking about your medical history, what medications you take, and the type of symptoms you have.
They may be able to feel swollen or obstructed glands from the outside of your mouth or throat or see pus draining from the glands on the inside of your mouth.
What Is an Abscess?
An abscess is a collection of pus that can form when you have an infection. Abscesses typically form on the skin and around hair follicles, but they can develop inside your body, too.
Your provider may order an imaging test such as a CT (computed tomography) scan or an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to determine the specific cause of the swelling. If several glands are swollen at once, your provider may order additional tests to get a sense of your overall health or check for a viral infection.
Treatment
The severity of the symptoms and cause of the salivary gland infection will dictate the need for treatment.
Self-Care
Home remedies can help relieve salivary gland swelling and pain caused by the infection. Some effective treatments you can try at home include:
Placing a warm compress over the affected area
Massaging the swollen gland
Drinking lots of water
Gargling with warm salt water
Cleaning your mouth and brushing your teeth frequently
Quitting smoking
You may also try over-the-counter (OTC) medications to treat pain and inflammation.
Related: Acetaminophen vs. Ibuprofen
Medication
When a bacterial infection is the source of swelling, your healthcare provider may prescribe antibiotics. They might also want to figure out the root cause of the infection. If a salivary gland obstruction is at fault, the blockage may need to be cleared surgically.
If your salivary gland swelling is related to a systemic (body-wide) condition like Sj?gren's syndrome (chronic autoimmune disease) or the viral disease mumps, those conditions will have to be treated as well, to prevent repeated episodes.
Surgery
Removing fluid from the body (aspiration), may relieve salivary gland swelling. During this procedure, a small needle is inserted into the salivary gland or duct to withdraw a buildup of saliva or pus.
Obstruction caused by a stone (mineral buildup), scar tissue, or another material may require a minimally invasive technique called sialendoscopy. During this procedure, a tiny camera and surgical tools are inserted into the gland to remove the blockage.
When more severe blockages, complications, or tumors are the problem, you may need to have a more invasive surgery performed or even consider removing your salivary glands.
Summary
Causes of salivary gland infections can range from an obstruction to cancer. Treatment will depend on the root cause of the problem; swelling caused by infections and obstructions is treated much differently than swelling caused by cancer or other chronic diseases. Talk to your healthcare provider about ways to relieve your discomfort at home, and how to avoid repeated infections or obstructions.
Related: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: Everything You Need to Know
A Word From Verywell
A swollen salivary gland can be painful and make it difficult to chew or even talk. Swelling of the salivary glands can be caused by obstructions of the ducts that release saliva into your mouth, by infections, and a number of other more serious conditions.
There are measures you can take at home to help manage swelling and pain, but you should talk to your provider about what is causing your salivary gland problems, and whether they can be more effectively treated and prevented.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long after treatment begins does a salivary gland infection clear up?
Antibiotics can usually begin to clear up symptoms of infection after a few days, but it can depend on the severity of your infection and any complications you might have. If you needed aspiration or surgery to clear a blockage in addition to treating your infection, your recovery could take longer.
What does a blocked salivary gland feel like?
A blocked salivary gland can be swollen and painful, but not always. Other symptoms can include trouble opening your mouth or having a funny taste in your mouth.
Can you prevent a salivary gland infection?
You can't prevent all types of salivary infections, but good oral hygiene, drinking enough water, and avoiding smoking can help. Talk to your healthcare provider about prevention strategies if you have chronic dry mouth or other conditions that put you at an increased risk of developing a salivary gland infection.
Read the original article on Verywell Health.
