Salivary Glands

What are salivary glands?

Your salivary glands are small organs in your mouth that make saliva (spit). The saliva that the glands make keeps your mouth and throat moist. It also helps you swallow and digest food.

Types of salivary glands

You have several types of salivary glands, including:

• Three major glands
• Hundreds of minor glands

What do salivary glands do?

Your salivary glands’ main job is to make lots of saliva (spit). Consider this: if you’re an adult, your salivary glands make about one to two liters (one to two quarts) of saliva every day. Over a year, that’s enough fluid to fill a bathtub. All that saliva works to support your oral health and overall health. For example, saliva:

• Moistens food so it’s easier to swallow
• Contains amylase, an enzyme that helps your stomach break down starches in food
• Keeps your mouth clean
• Protects your teeth from cavities

Where are salivary glands located?

The different glands and locations are:

• Sublingual glands are below either side of your tongue, under the floor of your mouth.
• Submandibular glands are below your jaw.
• Parotid glands are just in front of your ears. They’re the largest of the three major glands and make about 50% of all the saliva in your mouth.
• Minor salivary glands are mostly in your lips, palate, tongue and the inner lining of your cheeks.

What are the parts of my salivary glands?

Your parotid gland has two sections: The superficial section on top of your facial nerve and the deep section below the nerve. Your salivary glands are made of a group of specialized cells that release enzymes and mucus that help your body digest food.

How large are they?

The three major salivary glands are different sizes:

• Each sublingual gland is about the size of an almond.
• Together, your two submandibular glands are about the size of a walnut.
• Each parotid gland is about the size of a prune.

Your minor salivary glands measure about 2 millimeters or less than 1/10 of an inch.

What are the common conditions and disorders that affect salivary glands?

Several conditions and disorders can affect your salivary glands. Common conditions and disorders are:

• Salivary stones (sialolithiasis)
• Salivary gland dysfunction
• Salivary gland swelling (sialadenitis)
• Salivary gland neoplasm (tumor)
• Salivary gland cancer

Salivary gland dysfunction

Salivary gland dysfunction means your salivary glands don’t work as they should. In most cases, this means that your salivary glands don’t make enough saliva. Several conditions and factors may cause your saliva supply to dry up (chronic dry mouth). These include:

• Autoimmune disorders, like Sjögren's syndrome, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis
• Cancer treatments, like chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer in your head and neck
• Infections, like HIV and AIDS
• Some medications, like certain antihistamines, antidepressants sedatives and Parkinson’s disease medications

Common symptoms of conditions that affect your salivary gland

The primary symptom of salivary gland conditions is dry mouth. Other symptoms include:

• Difficulty swallowing
• Difficulty opening your mouth
• Fever
• Lump or swelling under your jaw or ear

How do I unclog my salivary glands?

Salivary stones can clog or block your salivary glands. You may be able to get rid of the stone by:

• Drinking lots of water.
• Sucking on a lemon or lemon drops.
• Gently rubbing the area around the stone.

The stones may cause infections that cause pain and make the skin overlying your gland become very red and inflamed. Or they may ooze pus from the ducts that drain the gland. You should talk to a healthcare provider if you think you have an infection from a salivary stone.