Key takeaways
- Salivary gland disorders happen when blockages, infections, or inflammation prevent these glands from releasing saliva. Common causes include salivary stones, viral or bacterial infections, and autoimmune conditions.
- Symptoms may include pain, swelling, dry mouth, fever, and a lump in your cheek or under your jaw. Cancerous tumors of the salivary glands are rare but may cause facial numbness or difficulty moving one side of your face.
- Treatment depends on the cause and may involve increased hydration, warm compresses, antibiotics, or surgery to remove a stone or a tumor.
The salivary glands are several small structures in your mouth that produce saliva, a fluid that helps you swallow and digest food and keeps your mouth moist. They are classified as either major or minor, depending on their size.
You have three pairs of major salivary glands:
- Parotid glands: the largest salivary glands, found in your cheeks, just below your ears
- Submandibular glands: smaller than the parotid glands and found under your jaw
- Sublingual glands: the smallest major salivary glands, located under your tongue
The minor salivary glands are much smaller and are found in the lining of your mouth, lips, tongue, nose, and throat.
A blockage or infection in the salivary glands can prevent them from producing or releasing enough saliva, leading to a variety of symptoms and risks. Below, learn more about salivary gland disorders and how they can affect your health.
Salivary gland disorders are health conditions that prevent these glands from working as they should and reduce the amount of saliva they release. These conditions can result from inflammation, infections, or blockages of your salivary glands.
Symptoms such as pain, swelling, dry mouth, and a bad taste in your mouth may indicate a salivary gland disorder.
Some salivary gland conditions may go away on their own or with antibiotic treatment, but others may require more complex treatment, including surgery.
Salivary gland disorders are divided into types according to their causes:
Inflammatory disorders
Salivary gland disorders that can result from inflammation include:
- Sialolithiasis (salivary gland stones): Tiny stones made up of calcium and other minerals can form in your salivary ducts and block them, preventing the release of saliva. Sialolithiasis is the
most common cause of swelling in the salivary glands and occurs most often in the submandibular glands. - Sialadenitis: In this condition, bacteria causes inflammation of a salivary gland, most often one of the parotid glands. It usually occurs after a salivary gland stone blocks the flow of saliva. Sialadenitis can be acute (occurring only once for a short time) or chronic (occurring repeatedly or lasting longer).
- Recurrent parotitis of childhood: Parotitis is inflammation of one or both parotid glands. Children with this condition typically experience repeated episodes of swelling and pain that may last days or weeks. The exact cause is unknown.
Viral infections
Mumps is the most common viral infection that can lead to salivary gland inflammation, but HIV, influenza, and other viruses may also affect these glands.
Viral infections of the salivary glands can cause pain and swelling around the affected glands, as well as flu-like symptoms such as fever and body aches.
Salivary gland tumors
A tumor is a mass of tissue that develops when cells divide more quickly than usual. Most salivary gland tumors are benign (harmless), but some may be malignant (cancerous). Healthcare professionals will perform tests to find out whether a tumor is benign or cancerous.
Autoimmune diseases
Autoimmune diseases are conditions in which your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues. The autoimmune condition most commonly associated with salivary gland issues is Sjögren disease.
In Sjögren disease, your immune system attacks moisture-producing glands throughout your body, including your salivary glands. You may experience symptoms such as dry mouth and swelling of the affected glands.
Rheumatoid arthritis is another autoimmune disease that can occur alongside Sjögren disease. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, you may have an increased risk of developing Sjögren disease and experiencing salivary gland problems.
Cysts
Many of the disorders listed above can lead to the development of cysts (small fluid-filled sacs) in your salivary glands. A cyst usually does not cause pain, but if it grows large enough, you may have some difficulty eating.
Below, you can review the symptoms of each type of salivary gland disorder.
Sialolithiasis symptoms
Salivary gland stones typically cause pain and swelling near the affected gland, especially after eating. You may also notice a lump under your tongue.
Sialadenitis symptoms
Symptoms of salivary gland inflammation include:
- a lump in your cheek or under your chin
- pus that drains into your mouth and may have a strong or foul smell
- fever
Recurrent parotitis symptoms
Children with recurrent parotitis will have repeated episodes of symptoms such as:
- swelling and pain near one or both parotid glands
- fever
- fatigue
Each episode may last days or weeks.
Salivary gland viral infection symptoms
Viral infections in the salivary glands, such as mumps, can cause:
- headache
- fever
- muscle aches
- joint pain
- swelling on both sides of your face
Salivary tumor symptoms
A benign salivary gland tumor is usually a painless lump on the affected gland that grows slowly.
A cancerous tumor
Sjögren disease symptoms
The symptoms of Sjögren disease include:
- dry mouth
- dry eyes
- tooth decay
- mouth sores
- joint pain or swelling
- dry cough
- unexplained fatigue
- swollen salivary glands
- frequent salivary gland infections
Salivary cyst symptoms
Cysts that grow in your salivary glands can cause:
- yellow mucus that drains when the cyst bursts
- difficulty eating
- difficulty speaking
- difficulty swallowing
Blockages in your salivary glands are the most common source of problems and can cause painful symptoms.
Blockages and related infections
Sialolithiasis occurs when tiny calcium stones form in the salivary glands. These stones can block the salivary ducts and partially or completely stop the flow of saliva.
Sialadenitis is an infection in a salivary gland, which often results from stones blocking the gland. Older adults and infants are most likely to develop this condition.
Bacteria that commonly cause sialadenitis include:
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Streptococcus
- Haemophilus influenzae
Viruses
Viruses that can cause infections in the salivary glands include:
Cancerous and noncancerous tumors
Tumors, which may be cancerous or noncancerous, can develop in the salivary glands and cause symptoms.
Benign tumors
A benign tumor is usually painless and grows slowly.
Pleomorphic adenomas and Warthin’s tumors are two types of benign tumors that can affect the parotid glands. Less commonly, benign pleomorphic adenomas can also grow in the submandibular gland and the minor salivary glands.
The exact cause of benign salivary gland tumors is not known, but
Because a benign tumor can become cancerous over time, doctors may recommend that you have surgery to remove it.
Cancerous tumors
Cancerous tumors tend to grow more quickly than benign ones and may be painful. Most begin in the parotid glands or the minor salivary glands.
Salivary gland cancers are rare, affecting about
Risk factors for salivary gland cancer
- older age
- previous radiation exposure
- some viral infections, such as HIV and human papillomavirus (HPV)
- changes to certain genes
Sjögren disease
Sjögren disease is an autoimmune condition that occurs when your immune system attacks healthy cells in moisture-producing glands, such as your salivary, sweat, and oil glands.
This condition is more common in women than in men and often occurs alongside other autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
After taking your medical history and performing a physical exam, a doctor may recommend testing to find the cause of any salivary gland symptoms. But in some cases, the diagnosis may be clear from the history and physical exam alone.
Your doctor may order a dental X-ray of the affected area to help them pinpoint the issue. If they need to finely target your salivary glands, an MRI or CT scan can provide more in-depth images.
A biopsy can also help with the diagnosis, particularly if your doctor suspects that you have an autoimmune disorder that affects your salivary glands. During a biopsy, a doctor will take a tissue sample from the affected gland to send to a laboratory for testing.
The right treatment will depend on which type of salivary gland disorder you have and how advanced it is.
Treatment for sialolithiasis
If you have a small salivary gland stone, treatment may not be necessary to remove it. Methods such as drinking more fluids, gently massaging the gland, or sucking on sour candy to increase the flow of saliva may help dislodge the stone.
If the stone is larger, a doctor may perform a sialendoscopy, in which they use a tiny camera to examine the stone and decide how to proceed. They may then recommend one of the following two procedures:
- Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy: a minimally invasive procedure that uses waves of energy to break up the stone
- Transoral surgery: a procedure in which a doctor makes a small incision in your mouth to remove the stone
Treatment for sialadenitis
To treat salivary gland inflammation due to a blockage, a doctor may recommend drinking plenty of fluids, massaging the affected gland, and applying a warm compress to help clear the blockage.
If a bacterial infection is causing the inflammation, a doctor will prescribe antibiotics.
Treatment for viral infections of the salivary glands
Treating a viral infection may involve medication to address the underlying virus, although some infections will clear up without treatment. To manage the symptoms, your doctor may recommend that you rest, drink plenty of fluids, and take pain relievers if needed.
Treatment for salivary gland tumors
If you have a mass in your salivary gland, a doctor may recommend surgery to remove the mass or the gland itself. If the mass is cancerous, you might need radiation treatments to kill off cancerous cells. These treatments will not usually start until your body has had time to heal, about 6 weeks after surgery.
Radiation treatments to your neck can cause dry mouth, which can be uncomfortable and affect your digestion. Your doctor may recommend that you drink more fluids and avoid foods high in sodium.
If the mass is not cancerous, radiation may not be necessary. A mass that doesn’t cause symptoms may be treated with conservative measures, such as a special mouthwash to relieve dry mouth. You can also keep your mouth moist by rinsing with a mixture of 1/2 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of water.
Treatment for Sjögren disease
There’s no cure for Sjögren disease, but medications can help manage the immune system response that causes inflammation in your salivary glands.
To address the common symptom of dry mouth, your doctor may recommend that you use a special mouthwash or a saliva substitute to keep your mouth moist. You can also use lozenges to increase saliva production.
Treatment for salivary cysts
Salivary gland cysts
Taking good care of your teeth is vital to the health of your salivary glands. Brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice a day can help prevent salivary gland blockages and infections. And because adequate saliva flow is essential to oral health, preventing blockages can help keep your mouth healthy.
Drinking plenty of water and avoiding smoking can also help prevent certain salivary gland disorders.
However, there’s no specific way to prevent autoimmune diseases or salivary gland cancer.
Make an appointment with a doctor if you notice symptoms such as:
- difficulty opening your mouth
- a bad taste in your mouth
- dry mouth
- mouth pain
- facial swelling
- a lump on your face or in your mouth
Salivary gland disorders happen when a blockage or infection prevents one or more of your salivary glands from releasing saliva. You may notice symptoms such as facial pain or swelling, fever, dry mouth, or a bad taste in your mouth.
Depending on the underlying cause, treatment for a salivary gland disorder may involve drinking more fluids, using products that increase saliva production, or taking medication. In some cases, you may need surgery.
Contact a doctor if you’re experiencing pain, swelling, or other symptoms that affect your mouth and throat.