Do stones form in the salivary glands in the mouth and cause pain? (Sialolithiasis) Let's talk about this in detail!

Do you feel a strange pain or swelling in the corner of your mouth or under your jaw when you eat, especially when you think about something sour? Does it seem to subside a few hours after you finish eating? If so, you may have a condition called salivary gland stones, which is medically known as ``Sialolithiasis''. Don't worry, let's find out more about this today.

What is sialolithiasis? Simply put...

Simply put, `(Sialolithiasis)` is the formation of small stone-like things `(Calculi)` in the salivary glands in our mouth or in the ducts that carry that saliva to the mouth. These stones can block the passage of saliva. That's when the pain and swelling that I mentioned earlier come. These stones are often made up of things like calcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite . This pain and swelling can sometimes occur on only one side of the face, or on both sides.

Where are these salivary glands located in our mouth?

There are three main types of salivary glands inside our mouths. Think of them as little factories that constantly supply our mouths with saliva.

• Parotid glands : These are the largest of our salivary glands . They are located in front of your ears, on either side of your cheeks.
• Sublingual glands: As the name suggests, these are located under your tongue, at the bottom of your mouth.
• Submandibular glands: These are located below your lower jaw, slightly to the back of your mouth. Surprisingly, 70% of the total saliva produced in our mouths is produced by these submandibular glands .

Stones can form in any of the salivary glands mentioned above. However, more than 80% of stones form in the submandibular gland . The duct that carries saliva from that gland to the mouth is called the Wharton's duct. Stones can also become lodged in that duct. The incidence of stones in the parotid glands is slightly lower, between 6% and 15%. The incidence of stones in other glands, namely the sublingual glands, is very low, with only about 2% reported.

Who is most likely to develop this condition?

Salivary gland stones can develop in anyone. However, they are most common in men between the ages of 30 and 60. Surprisingly, they are very rare in young children.

How common is this?

In fact, the salivary glands become swollen ( Sialadenitis ))` Although the main cause of these stones is considered to be ``Sialolithiasis``, this is not a very common condition overall. Consider that approximately one in 30,000 people develop stones in these salivary glands.

What are the symptoms of salivary gland stones?

Most of the time, these symptoms increase when we eat . Then, they gradually decrease within a few hours after eating. The reason for this is that when we eat and chew food, our salivary glands are stimulated and produce more saliva. But because of the stone, the saliva cannot come out and gets stuck inside the gland. That's when these symptoms appear.

• Swelling of the salivary glands: The glands may swell, especially under the jaw and cheeks.
• Difficulty swallowing.
• Difficulty opening your mouth.
• Dry mouth (Xerostomia).
• A strange taste in the mouth.
• Feeling like a painful lump under the tongue.
• Facial pain or swelling: This often occurs under the chin or around the ear.

However, some people may have salivary gland stones but not experience any symptoms .

Why do salivary gland stones form? What are the causes?

Any condition that causes our saliva to become thick or dense can lead to the formation of these stones. The main contributing factors are:

• Dehydration: When the body does not get enough water, saliva can become thick.
• Some autoimmune diseases: For example, conditions like lupus and Sjögren 's syndrome.
• Certain medications: Especially those that remove water from the body (Diuretics).
• Smoking.
• Trauma or injury to the salivary glands.
• If you have received radiation therapy to the oral area.

Sometimes, salivary gland stones can form without any obvious reason.

Is this condition contagious from person to person?

No, salivary gland stones are not contagious . However, if you develop an infection in your salivary gland due to a virus or bacteria, that infection can be transmitted to others. So you need to be careful about that.

How does a doctor recognize this condition?

Usually, an experienced doctor can diagnose this condition by examining you. The doctor will feel your face and neck, check for lumps inside your mouth, and ask about your past medical history and any symptoms you may be experiencing.

What other tests are being done to find out exactly this?

Sometimes, the doctor may need to do some more tests to confirm the diagnosis or to see exactly where the stones are. These are called `(Imaging tests)`.

• X-rays
• CT scans (Computed Tomography scans)
• MRI Scan (MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

Sometimes a doctor may also order a salivary gland scan . This involves injecting a small amount of radioactive material into a vein in your arm. Then, you are placed in front of a special camera and pictures are taken. After about 45 minutes, the doctor will give you something sour, such as a lime, to stimulate saliva production. Then, as the saliva comes out of the salivary glands, the doctor will take more pictures to see how much saliva is left in the ducts.

How is this treated?

Treatment for salivary gland stones varies depending on the size of the stone and its location . Sometimes it can be treated with home remedies. Sometimes it requires medication. Other times, it may require minor surgery.

What things can you do at home?

Most of the time, these salivary gland stones will heal on their own with simple home treatments .

You can drink plenty of water , apply a warm compress or gently massage the painful area. Also , sucking on sour things like lime or lemon can increase saliva production and help push the stone out.

Medicine prescribed by the doctor

If you have an infection caused by a salivary gland stone, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics . You should use these medications exactly as your doctor tells you.

Stone removal methods performed right in the doctor's office

If home treatments don't dislodge the stone, your doctor may try to remove the stone by gently probing the area with a blunt instrument.

Surgery

Larger stones may need to be removed surgically. In this procedure, a surgeon inserts a small camera-like device called an endoscope into your bile duct to find the location of the stone. The stone is then removed with a special instrument. Sometimes a small incision may be made.

Removing the salivary gland itself

Very rarely, if this problem occurs frequently, if the location of the stone makes it difficult to remove by other methods, or if severe symptoms persist, doctors may decide to surgically remove the salivary gland itself.

Are there ways to avoid the formation of stones in these salivary glands?

In fact, it's impossible to completely prevent this from happening. But, you can reduce your risk of developing it.

• Drink enough water for your body.
• Avoid smoking.
• Maintain good oral hygiene (brushing your teeth well, rinsing your mouth, etc.)

If you start to feel pain or tightness in your salivary glands, quickly suck on something sour and gently massage the area to stimulate saliva flow . This will help to dislodge a small stone if it is forming.

What happens to someone with this condition? What can you expect?

If one of your salivary glands is blocked, you may experience pain or swelling in the area where the gland is located when you eat. These symptoms usually last for an hour or two and then subside by the time you eat your next meal.

Is this a situation that will automatically get better?

Most of the time, yes. Sialolithiasis will get better on its own with simple home treatments (such as warm compresses, massage, and sucking on sour things) . However, if you continue to have symptoms despite these home treatments, it's best to see a doctor.

What happens if left untreated? Is it dangerous?

If left untreated, this condition (Sialolithiasis) can lead to infections, bacteria, and abscesses . These can even spread to the inside of the neck. Therefore, if you have persistent facial pain and swelling, be sure to see a doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

If your symptoms persist for more than two weeks , or if the skin over the gland becomes red and painful , be sure to call a doctor for advice.

Are `(Sialolithiasis)` and `(Sialadenitis)` two different things? What is the difference?

Yes, although these two can be a bit confused, there is a slight difference.

• Sialolithiasis: This refers to the formation of stones (calculi) in the salivary glands or salivary ducts.
• Sialadenitis: This is when a salivary gland becomes inflamed or infected .

Salivary gland stones (Sialolithiasis) can cause swelling/infection of the salivary glands (Sialadenitis), but this does not always happen.

Finally, things to remember (Take-Home Message)

Salivary gland stones (Sialolithiasis) are a condition where a salivary gland becomes blocked by a stone. This is usually not a serious condition and can often be treated with simple home remedies. If you have a sore or swollen face that gets worse when you eat, it could be Sialolithiasis. Therefore, it is best to see a doctor to find out the exact cause and get the appropriate treatment if necessary . Don't worry, there are good treatments for this!