Salivary glands are structures in the mouth that produce and secrete saliva, which contains enzymes responsible for facilitating the digestive process of food and maintaining lubrication of the throat and mouth, thus avoiding dryness.
In some situations, such as infections or the formation of salivary stones, salivary gland function may be affected, leading to symptoms such as swelling of the affected gland, which can be perceived by swelling of the face, as well as pain in opening the mouth and swallowing, for example. In these situations, it is important that the person see the dentist or family doctor to find the cause and start appropriate treatment.
- The main function of the salivary glands is the production and secretion of saliva.
- Which occurs when there is food in the mouth or as a result of olfactory stimulation.
- In addition to being produced on a regular basis in order to maintain the lubrication and hygiene of the mouth.
- As it has enzymes capable of eliminating bacteria and thus reducing the risk of cavities.
The saliva produced and secreted is also rich in digestive enzymes, such as pthialin, also known as salivary amylase, which is responsible for the first stage of the digestive process, which corresponds to the degradation of starch and softening of food, allowing it to be swallowed. Understand how the digestive process works.
The salivary glands are present in the mouth and can be classified according to their location in:
All salivary glands produce saliva, but larger parotid glands are responsible for increased saliva production and secretion.
Some situations can interfere with the functioning of the salivary glands, which can affect a person’s well-being and quality of life. The main alteration related to the salivary gland is the blockage of the salivary canal due to the presence of stones formed at the site.
Changes in the salivary glands can vary depending on their cause, evolution and prognosis, the main changes related to these glands being:
Sialoadenite is an inflammation of the salivary gland due to infection by viruses or bacteria, blockage of the canal or presence of salivary tartar, resulting in symptoms that can be uncomfortable for the person, such as constant pain in the mouth, redness of the mucous membranes, swelling of the area under the tongue and mouth dry.
In the case of a sialoadenite that affects the parotid gland, swelling may also be seen on the side of the face, where this gland is located. Learn to recognize the signs of sialoadenite.
What to do: Sialoadenite usually goes away on its own, so no specific treatment is necessary. However, in case of persistence it is recommended to go to the dentist or the family doctor to make the diagnosis and start the treatment, which varies according to the cause, antibiotics may be indicated in case of infection, or use of anti-inflammatory to reduce signs and symptoms.
Sialolithiasis can be commonly defined as the presence of salivary stones in the salivary canal, causing its blockage, which can be perceived by signs and symptoms such as pain in the face and mouth, swelling, difficulty swallowing and dry mouth.
The cause of salivary mortality is not yet known, but the stones are known to be the result of crystallization of substances in saliva and can be promoted by inadequate nutrition or the use of certain medicines capable of reducing the amount of salivary product.
What to do: Treatment with sialolitiase should be recommended by your doctor and may vary depending on the size of the calculation. For small stones, the person may be advised to drink enough water to stimulate the escape of the salivary duct calculation. On the other hand, when the calculation is very large, your doctor may recommend a small surgical procedure to remove the stone. Understand how sialolithiasis is treated.
Salivary gland cancer is a rare condition that can be perceived from the onset of certain signs and symptoms, such as the appearance of a lump in the face, neck or mouth, pain and numbness in the face, difficulty opening the mouth and swallowing and weakness. facial muscles.
Although it is a malignant disorder, this type of cancer is completely treatable and curable, but it is important that the diagnosis is made quickly and that treatment begins soon after.
What to do: For salivary gland cancer, it is important that treatment is started as soon as possible to avoid metastasis and worsening of the person’s clinical condition. So, depending on the type of cancer and its extent, your doctor may recommend surgery, to remove as many tumor cells as possible, as well as radiation therapy and chemotherapy, which can be done alone or together.
Learn more about salivary gland cancer
Salivary glands may also have abnormalities in their functioning and swell due to infections, which can be caused by fungi, viruses or bacteria. The most common infection is the virus in the family Paramyxoviridae, which causes mumps, also known as infectious mumps.
Signs of mumps appear up to 25 days after contact with viruses and the main symptom of mumps is swelling on the side of the face, in the area between the ear and chin, due to inflammation of the parotid gland, in addition to headaches and face. , pain when swallowing and opening mouth and feeling dry in the mouth.
What to do: Treatment of mumps aims to relieve symptoms and your doctor may recommend using painkillers to relieve discomfort, as well as rest and ingest plenty of fluids, to make it easier to remove the virus from your body. . .
Some autoimmune diseases can also cause the salivary glands to become more inflamed and affect their functionality, such as Sjogren’s syndrome, which is an autoimmune disease in which there is inflammation of various glands in the body, including the salivary and tear glands. As a result, symptoms such as dry mouth, dry eyes, difficulty swallowing, dry skin, and an increased risk of eye and oral infections occur. Learn about the other symptoms of Sjogren’s syndrome.
What to do: Treatment of Sjogren’s syndrome is done with the aim of relieving symptoms. Therefore, your doctor may recommend the use of lubricating eye drops, artificial saliva, and anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce inflammation of the glands.