Blocked salivary gland

Nina1987 · Newbie Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Posts: 1

I went to my doctor today and he told me I have a narrow salivary gland. For the past year or so I have been have severe paint underneath my tongue every couple of weeks, the pain last a matter of seconds and is at the back of my mouth underneath my tongue. After the pain goes away I feel like I've got lots of saliva in my mouth. My doctor said he thinks it is a narrow salivary gland which sometimes blocks and that is what causes the pain I told him about.... now this pain I suffer is like nothing I have ever experienced before its like a burning, stinging pain its awful!! All he told me to do was go away and massage my jaw and drink plenty of fluids and until the pain was constant there wasn't much they could do. I am really worried about this because I feel asthough he may have got it all wrong. surely the cause of this severe pain I am experiencing from time to time cannot be so minor???

Guest · Guest

Years ago my son had a similar problem, he was young. General practice doctor would prescribe an antibiotic for 10 days and the throat swelling would go away and re-appear in about 3 days. We did this procedure twice, then they sent us to an ENT. This guy was unreal ! We walked in and he said I know what he has, I had it when I was a kid. Under the tongue, the little piece connecting your tongue to your mouth had a tiny calcium deposit. The doctor made a tiny incision, got the calcium deposit, no bigger than a pin head and he was fine.

Dilly · Newbie Joined: 16 Dec 2006 Posts: 5 Location: USA

I work for an Oral surgeon and we see patients with your symptoms all of the time. It sounds like you have a blocked sublingual salivary gland. they usually become blocked by a very small calcium deposit that fluxuates in size. This explains the pain that comes and goes. The treatment for this is drinking lots of water, massaging under your chin, sucking on very sour hard candy (this will stimulate your gland) such as a lemon drop, or antibiotics. Sometimes an infection will present itself if the gland becomes blocked for a long period of time. If you go to your Dentist or find an Oral surgeon in your area, they can take an Occlusal film to detect any salivary gland stones. If you do have a stone or stones (yes there can be more than one) sometimes they require to be surgically removed. It can be done under Local Anesthesia (numbing the area) with a small incision and some manipulation.

Guest · Guest

I was just wondering how painful this operation is. I realize that the actual procedure might not be that bad, but how about the irritation for the few days afterward?

miola · Posted: 03/11/07 - 07:44 Post subject: calcium structures in salivary glands

i wonder if such calcium structures could be found(detected and surgically removed) in sublingual salivary gland,is it possible to look for similar in the other gland,producing saliva(the ones behind the jaw and below the ears)?
thanks a lot

Dilly · Newbie Joined: 16 Dec 2006 Posts: 5 Location: USA

Salivary gland stones can be detected by an occlusal xray at your oral surgeons office or if the oral surgeon suspects another stone farther down in the duct he will order a CT of the Head and Neck to rule out any possible obstructing stones. At first you will be told to drink a lot of water and possibly to try to use sour hard candy to promote our gland to push the stone out itself. An antibiotic is sometimes prescribed to prevent any infection from occurring where the stone is blocked. If the radiologic results prove there is a stone and it is closer to the opening of the duct your oral surgeon will possibly be able to remove it in an office setting. However if the duct if farther away from the opening your oral surgeon may take you to the hospital to remove it or refer you to an ENT Doctor.

Guest · Guest

My 13 year old is due to have an operation on Friday 23rd March to have a lump cut out of her salivary gland which is blocked. She has a biggish purple lump on the inside of her lip. They have said that as the lump has been there for so long it will have to be removed by surgery. She will be having a general anthesetic and it will be done as day surgery. Hope this helps

Guest · Guest

I have a little lump inside my lips and ENT specialist said the slivery glands are blocked and it needs to be surgicaly removed. Can you post the result of your son's surgery, how many days it took to heal and was the surgery painful?

Thanks!

RevSherm · Newbie Joined: 14 Apr 2007 Posts: 1

I have one actually on the soft palate, right above where my wisdom teeth would be. My ENT specialist is removing it on friday. The bump is always there, but about once a week it flares up when I eat. then a day later it goes back down. Not really painful, I feel it start to tingle, then the sensation of a seed stuck to my mouth. I was worried it might be cancer, but my dentist did a brush biopsy and it came back negative. I was being treated for acid reflux and my ENT doctor diagnosed the bump as a blocked minor salivary gland. I've had it since Dec.

my question is for everybody else. Is your bump or lump always there and then flares up?

Guest · Guest

Mine are not always a bump, but do flare up when I eat. They are always in the same three spots.

Blocked salivary gland

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