Do You Have an Infection of Your Salivary Gland?
Posted on 12/7/2020 by Dr. Michael Allard |
 The salivary glands play a vital role in lubricating your mouth, protecting your teeth against harmful bacteria, aiding in swallowing, and helping in food digestion. The three major salivary glands include the parotid, submandibular and sublingual glands. Also, there are hundreds of minor glands located in the mouth and throat to ensure that your oral cavity stays healthy throughout. Just like other glands in your body, salivary glands get infected as well. But how do you know you have sialadenitis or salivary gland infection?
Causes of Salivary Gland Infection
One of the causes of sialadenitis is bacteria, specifically, Staphylococcus aureus (staph). Other causes could be fungi and viruses. Mumps is a prime example of viral infections affecting the parotid gland. Most of the infections occur when your mouth is dry for various reasons. These reasons may include a salivary stone, blockage, or a kink in one of the salivary ducts. Inadequate fluid consumption, medications such as water pills (diuretics), illness, or antihistamines are also responsible for causing salivary gland infection. This condition can affect almost everyone including kids, but those at risk are the chronically ill people and the elderly. If the infection spreads to the deep tissues of your neck and head, it can become life-threatening.
Symptoms of Salivary Gland Infection
You should watch out for specific signs and symptoms if you suspect that you have sialadenitis. Be careful not to make any conclusive ideas about this type of infection because its symptoms can easily mimic those of other conditions. However, you should be aware of a constant abnormal or rather foul taste in the mouth, face pain, dry mouth, difficulty opening the mouth, discomfort when eating, pus, and pain in the mouth. Other symptoms that you may need to take note of include fever or chills, redness, and swelling of your jaws, including ears. Once you notice these symptoms, you should seek medical intervention as soon as possible. Call us or visit our office today for more advice on salivary gland infection.
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