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Overview
Salivary glands are located in the mouth. There are three pairs of large salivary glands. Parotid glands are found in front of and just below each ear. Submandibular glands are below the jaw. Sublingual glands are under the tongue. There are also hundreds of smaller glands. These glands make saliva (spit) and empty it into the mouth through openings called ducts. Saliva makes food moist, which helps chewing and swallowing and the digestion of food. Saliva also keeps the mouth clean and healthy because it contains antibodies that kill germs.
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If the salivary glands are damaged or aren’t producing enough saliva, it can affect taste, make chewing and swallowing more difficult, and increase the risk for cavities, tooth loss, and infections in the mouth.
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Causes
Multiple medications: Use of multiple medications by older adults can result in dry mouth as a side effect.
Tumors: Tumors usually appear as painless enlargements in one of the salivary glands. Malignant (cancerous) tumors often grow quickly, may or may not be painful, and may cause numbness or loss of movement in the affected side of the face. Although the causes of salivary gland cancers are not known, risk factors include older age, treatment with radiation to the head and neck, some types of chemotherapy, and being exposed to certain substances at work.
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Obstruction: Small stones that form in the gland ducts may obstruct the flow of saliva. The gland may swell and become painful and infected. Small constrictions or twists in the duct system of the large salivary glands can also decrease salivary flow.
Infection: When saliva pools behind an obstruction in a duct, the gland can become infected. Infection of the lymph nodes from a sore throat or cold can also cause a secondary infection in the salivary glands.
Other Disorders: Diseases such as HIV-AIDS, and autoimmune disorders such as Sjögren’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis, can make the salivary glands inflamed and painful. Diabetes may also cause enlargement of the salivary glands. People with an alcohol use disorder may have salivary gland swelling, usually on both sides of the face.
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