What is Salivary Stone

Salivary stone is a mineral deposit that builds up in the ducts that drain your salivary glands. Most salivary stones are made of calcium. When a stone forms, saliva can back up into the gland and cause painful swelling.

Your salivary glands are the glands that produce saliva. You have six major salivary glands. Each gland has a duct that carries saliva into your mouth. Saliva keeps your mouth moist and breaks down the food that you eat. It also helps prevent tooth decay.

Two salivary glands are located just in front of your ears (parotid). The ducts for these glands open up inside your cheeks, near your back teeth. You also have two glands under your tongue (sublingual) and two glands under your jaw (submandibular). The ducts for these glands open under your tongue. A stone can form in any salivary gland. The most common place for a salivary stone to develop is in a submandibular salivary gland.

What are the causes?

Salivary stones may be caused by any condition that reduces the flow of saliva. It is not known why some people form stones.

What increases the risk?

You are more likely to develop this condition if:

• You are male.
• You do not drink enough water.
• You smoke.
• You have any of the following:
  • High blood pressure.
  • Gout.
  • Diabetes.

What are the signs or symptoms?

The main sign of a salivary gland stone is sudden swelling of a salivary gland when eating. This usually happens under the jaw on one side. Other signs and symptoms may include:

• Swelling of the cheek or under the tongue when eating.
• Pain in the swollen area.
• Trouble chewing or swallowing.
• Swelling that goes down after eating.

How is this diagnosed?

This condition may be diagnosed based on:

• Your signs and symptoms.
• A physical exam. In many cases, your health care provider will be able to feel the stone in a duct inside your mouth.
• Imaging studies, such as:
  • X-rays.
  • Ultrasound.
  • CT scan.
  • MRI.

You may need to see an ear, nose, and throat specialist (ENT or otolaryngologist) for diagnosis and treatment.

How is this treated?

Treatment for this condition depends on the size of the stone.

• A small stone that is not causing symptoms may be treated with home care.
• For a stone that is large enough to cause symptoms, the treatment options may include:
  • Probing and widening of the duct to allow the stone to pass.
  • Inserting a thin, flexible scope (endoscope) into the duct to locate and remove the stone.
  • Breaking up the stone with sound waves.
  • Removing the entire salivary gland.

Follow these instructions at home:

To relieve discomfort

• Follow these instructions every few hours:
  • Suck on a lemon candy to stimulate the flow of saliva.
  • Put a warm compress over the gland.
  • Gently massage the gland.

General instructions

• Drink enough fluid to keep your urine pale yellow.
• Do not use any products that contain nicotine or tobacco, such as cigarettes and e-cigarettes. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

• You have pain and swelling in your face, jaw, or mouth after eating.
• You have persistent swelling in any of these places:
  • In front of your ear.
  • Under your jaw.
  • Inside your mouth.

Get help right away if:

• You have pain and swelling in your face, jaw, or mouth, and this is getting worse.
• Your pain and swelling make it hard to swallow or breathe.

Summary

• A salivary stone is a mineral deposit that builds up in the ducts that drain your salivary glands.
• When a stone forms, saliva can back up into the gland and cause painful swelling.
• Salivary stones may be caused by any condition that reduces the flow of saliva.
• Treatment for this condition depends on the size of the stone.