Blocked Salivary Gland Treatment

The salivary glands are present in and around the throat and mouth. There are two types of gland; major salivary glands and minor salivary glands. The symptoms of blocked salivary glands is a dry mouth accompanied with difficulty in swallowing or opening the mouth, due to which one may experience pain in the region. Swelling of the neck and tenderness of the face might also be observed.

There are various reasons associated with blocked salivary glands. Diseases like HIV/AIDS can cause this. Salivary gland stones can be caused due to external factors like constant exposure to sun and at the same time drinking less amount of water. This will result in the mouth drying up further leading to dehydration. Medication such as antidepressant decrease the production of saliva. Other salivary gland stones are caused to chronic pain in the mouth region and depression. If a person has undergone throat or any kind of oral surgery in the recent past, then there are chances of him suffering from blocked salivary glands.

Information on Blocked Salivary Gland Treatment

Most of the time, blockage in salivary gland occurs due to the presence of salivary duct stones. These stones are crystallized minerals such as calcium in the ducts that block the salivary glands. In such cases, the doctors advise to remove it. The salivary stones can be removed by pressing down the salivary gland. Placing a warm compress behind the ear and below the mandible can aid in bobbing the stone, making the eviction process a lot easier. The stone can also be flushed out by increasing the flow of saliva. You can stimulate the flow of saliva with the help of citrus or sour candy. Ensure that you amplify your fluid consumption. Drink water religiously to help flush off the stone. However, in some cases, surgical intervention is a must, if the stone is stubborn and cannot be flushed out with other methods.

The salivary gland stones can be broken down by means of ultrasound waves. These broken fragments of stone can easily pass through the duct. This is an advanced treatment method for blocked salivary glands. Moreover, it is a painless and noninvasive procedure that can be performed in a brief period. Another blocked salivary gland treatment makes use of an endoscope. An endoscope is a tube like structure that has a camera attached towards the receding end. This tube, when slides inside the duct, provides a clear view of the region thereby capturing images of the stone. A pair of grabbers are also attached to the end that dives into the duct, grabbing the stone and pulling it out. The stones predominantly develop in people aged 40 and above.

In order to avoid blocked salivary glands, make sure that you drink enough fluids. Maintain oral hygiene and make sure that you go for oral examination after every 3 to 6 months. Blocked salivary glands can be uncomfortable, but not dangerous. The treatment methods aforementioned for blocked salivary glands are not painful or invasive. It can be removed with minimal amount of discomfort. But, there are chances that it might cause other salivary gland infections.