Problems Of Salivary Gland!

Salivary glands play a useful part in the human body. They secrete saliva, which performs tasks like helping with digesting food, keeping your mouth from getting dry and protecting your teeth from germs. There are numerous salivary glands in your body, spreading through the entire oral and throat region. They are present at the base of your mouth, below the tongue and on the insides of the cheeks. They are also present all along your throat.

Disorders in the salivary glands can be painful and inconvenient. These disorders are caused mainly because a number of problems affect the functioning of the glands, and they cannot produce saliva in normal levels anymore. Problems may also affect the ducts, which help drain the saliva that the glands produce.

Which are the major problems of salivary glands?

Following are those that are found most commonly -

• Salivary stones - These happen when saliva is not able to pass out of the glands and goes back to be accumulated inside it. The ducts that drain out excess saliva may also be blocked. As a result, this accumulation causes the glands to swell, and cause pain in the mouth. If left untreated, they can become really uncomfortable.

• Salivary gland infections - These are also common disorders of the salivary glands. They occur when the draining ducts are blocked. As a result, lump-like growths occur in the glands, and pus accumulation takes place. The pus drains into the mouth and is bad to taste. If left untreated, this condition could become progressively more painful, and pus accumulation may increase. Older people, who already have salivary stones, and young babies, are more susceptible to this condition than other age groups.

• Tumour formation in the salivary glands - Both cancerous (malignant) and non-cancerous (benign) tumours may form in the salivary glands. Most tumours that form are non-cancerous, however, the risk cannot be ruled out entirely.

Salivary glands are indispensable to the proper functioning of your mouth and by extension, of your whole body. They help in both defence and utility fields of the oral region, and when diseases affect them, you should best consult your doctor to see if it is anything serious. You should then begin treatment immediately.