Have you ever felt that the area near your ear suddenly swells up and is so painful that you can't even touch it? Does this pain seem to increase, especially when you see delicious food or when you spit in your mouth? Some people may experience this swelling along with a fever. Many people think that this is just swelling that will go away in a day or two. But this could be a problem with the 'parotid gland', which is a very important part of our body. So don't worry, we will talk about this in a simple way today, in a way that you can understand.
What exactly is the Parotid Gland?
Simply put, the parotid gland is our main salivary gland . There are three pairs of major salivary glands in our mouth. The largest pair of glands is the parotid gland. These two glands are located on either side of your cheeks, slightly in front of and below your ears.
Think of the inside of our mouth as a machine that is constantly working. We talk, eat, and swallow things. In order for this machine to work well and smoothly, it needs something like lubrication. That's what our mouth is called 'saliva'. The largest and most important of the main factories that produce this saliva is the parotid gland.
So what happens to the saliva produced by this gland?
This is not just water. It does a lot of very important work for our bodies.
- Keeping the mouth moist: Saliva helps keep our mouths moist and free from dryness, so we can speak and swallow food easily.
- Aiding in digestion: The process of digesting the food we eat begins in the mouth. Saliva, which is produced by the parotid gland, contains an enzyme called amylase . This is what starts the first step in the digestion of starchy foods (like bread and rice) we eat in the mouth.
- Reduces harmful bacteria in the mouth: Our mouth is home to millions of bacteria. Saliva can control these harmful bacteria and reduce the risk of oral infections.
- Protects against tooth decay: Saliva washes away food particles and neutralizes acids that are harmful to teeth. Therefore, saliva is essential for preventing tooth decay.
Did you know? Normally, the parotid glands produce about 10% of the total saliva in our mouth. But when we eat, these glands become more active, increasing saliva production by up to 25%!
Where exactly is this gland located in our body and what does it look like?
As we mentioned earlier, these two glands are located just in front of and below your ears, on either side of your cheeks. To be precise, they should be on the top of your lower jaw. Each of these glands opens into a thin tube-like duct (`Stensen's duct`). This is where the saliva that is produced comes into your mouth. This duct opens near the upper molar teeth in your upper jaw.
In appearance, it looks like an upside-down pyramid. The upper part is wide and narrows as it goes down. A very important nerve that controls the emotions of our face, the facial nerve , runs through the gland. This nerve divides the gland into two parts (superficial lobe and deep lobe). This is why doctors are very careful when performing surgeries on the parotid gland. Because if that nerve is slightly damaged, one side of the face can droop and saliva can leak out of the corner of the mouth.
Why does this parotid gland swell? What are the causes?
Okay, now let's look at the problem that many people have. Why does this gland suddenly swell and become painful? There can be several main reasons for this. Let's break them down like this.
| Problem/condition | A simple explanation |
|---|---|
| Salivary stone formation (Sialolithiasis) | This is the most common cause. Minerals like calcium in saliva accumulate and form tiny stones inside the ducts that carry saliva. When you eat, you produce more saliva, and these stones get stuck, preventing the saliva from flowing out, causing the gland to swell and cause severe pain. |
| Infection of the gland (Sialadenitis) | The gland can be infected by bacteria or viruses. For example, the common cold, mumps, is a viral infection of the parotid gland. Other bacterial infections can also cause it to become swollen, red, and have a fever. |
| Formation of tumors in the gland | Sometimes tumors can develop in the parotid gland. Don't be alarmed when you hear this. About 80% of these tumors are non-cancerous, normal tumors. They can grow larger, but they may not be painful. |
| Cancer | This is very rare. However, sometimes cancerous tumors can develop in this gland. These usually grow rapidly, can be painful, and can even cause facial drooping due to pressure on the facial nerve. |
What are the most common symptoms of this problem?
Most of the time, no matter what the cause, there are a few common symptoms. If you have one or more of these, don't dismiss it as normal.
- Swelling of the cheek and jaw area: The side of the cheek near the ear swells suddenly or gradually.
- Pain: Pain comes with swelling. The pain increases especially when you think about eating, eating, or thinking about something sour . This is because the amount of saliva produced increases.
- Fever: If there is an infection, the body may become hot and feverish.
- Difficulty opening your mouth: Swelling may make it difficult to open and close your mouth.
- Dry mouth: If one of the salivary ducts is blocked, you may experience a dry mouth.
- Bad taste in the mouth: If pus has formed due to an infection, you may have a bad taste or odor in your mouth.
How does a doctor find this?
When you go to a doctor with these symptoms, the first thing he or she will do is ask you questions. He or she will ask you questions about how long the swelling has been there, what the pain is like, whether it gets worse when you eat, and whether you have a fever.
Then, your face, cheeks, and jaw will be examined carefully. They will check for swelling, tenderness, warmth, and pain. They will also examine your mouth for redness, pus, or drainage from the salivary glands.
Most of the time, this initial examination will give the doctor a good idea of the problem. However, sometimes more tests may be needed to confirm the exact cause.
| Name of the test | Simply put, what do you do with it? |
|---|---|
| Imaging Tests | You may be asked to have an ultrasound scan, CT scan, or MRI scan to see what's going on inside the gland. This can clearly show if there are stones, a tumor, or a collection of pus. |
| Needle Biopsy | If there is a suspicion of a tumor, the doctor will use a fine needle to take some cells from the swelling and send them to the lab. This will help determine whether or not they are cancerous. |
What are the treatments for this?
The treatment method depends on the cause of your problem.
- If it's an infection: If it's a bacterial infection, your doctor will prescribe you appropriate antibiotics . They will also give you medicine for fever and pain.
- If the stone is very small, your doctor may tell you to drink plenty of water, eat something sour like toffee or lemon. This will help your saliva flow and help push the stone out. He or she may also teach you how to massage the gland. But you should definitely consult a doctor before trying these things on your own. If these things don't work, you may need to have a minor operation to remove the stone.
- If there is a tumor: If there is a tumor, the best treatment is usually surgery (`Parotidectomy`) to remove the tumor or part of the gland.
- If it is cancer: If cancer is confirmed, radiation therapy or chemotherapy may be required in addition to surgery.
What can we do to keep these glands healthy?
We can't really prevent all of these problems, but there are some simple things we can do to keep our salivary glands healthy.
- Drink plenty of water throughout the day: Dehydration is one of the reasons for the formation of salivary stones. Therefore, be sure to drink the required amount of water throughout the day.
- Sugar-free gum or toffee: Chewing these stimulates saliva production, which helps keep the tubes clean.
- Avoid smoking: Smoking affects the function of the salivary glands and increases the risk of cancer.
- Reduce caffeine and alcohol: These can dehydrate the body, so it's best to limit their use.
- Take care of your oral hygiene: Brushing your teeth twice a day and keeping your mouth clean helps prevent infections.
Finally, if your parotid gland is swollen and painful, don't ignore it. Most of the time, these are things that can be completely cured with simple treatments. But sometimes, something like surgery may be necessary. Therefore, if you have any questions or doubts, the best thing to do is to see your doctor and get advice.
Take-Home Message
- Don't ignore swelling and pain in the cheek near the ear as normal. It could be a problem with the parotid gland.
- If the pain increases, especially when eating or thinking about something sour, it is a strong sign that it may be due to stones in the salivary ducts (sialolithiasis).
- If you have these symptoms, avoid staying home, guessing or relying solely on what you read online. Definitely see your doctor.
- Most parotid gland problems can be easily treated with antibiotics or simple home remedies. Therefore, it is important to seek proper medical advice as soon as possible without panicking.
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