How can I unclog my salivary glands?

The best way to clear blocked salivary glands is to ramp up saliva production. The best way to do this is to drink lots and lots of water. If that doesn’t’ help, try sucking on sugar-free sour candies such as lemon drops. Gentle heat on the area can help ease the inflammation and help the stone to clear out.

How serious is a blocked salivary gland?

Salivary gland infection, or sialadenitis. If not treated, salivary gland infections can cause severe pain, high fevers, and abscess (pus collection).

Can salivary glands get clogged?

Blockage makes saliva back up inside the duct, causing the salivary gland to swell painfully. A blocked duct and gland filled with stagnant saliva may become infected with bacteria. A typical symptom of a blocked salivary duct is swelling and pain over the gland that is affected.

What happens when your salivary glands are blocked?

Blocked salivary glands result in difficulty in swallowing and eating. Salivary duct stones are the culprit to blocked salivary glands. This condition can be painful, but it is not a severe health condition. It just makes a person produce less saliva, which makes the mouth dry.

What causes saliva to back up in the mouth?

Several problems can occur in the salivary glands, though, preventing you from producing enough to keep your mouth clean. One of them is a blocked salivary duct, wherein something physically obstructs the tube that connects the gland to your mouth – causing saliva to back up in the gland.

How is the diagnosis of salivary gland disease made?

The diagnosis of salivary gland disease depends upon a careful history, a physical examination, and laboratory tests. If an obstruction of the major salivary glands is suspected, it may be necessary to anesthetize the opening of the salivary ducts in the mouth, and to probe, and dilate the duct to help an obstructive stone pass.

What to do if you have a tumor in your salivary gland?

Tumors rarely involve more than one gland and are detected as a growth in the parotid, submandibular area, on the palate, floor of mouth, cheeks, or lips. These enlargements should be checked by an otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon.