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Saliva stagnates and forms a mucus plug behind the stricture during sleep when the salivary output of the parotid is reduced. Then, when salivary secretion is stimulated, the mucus plug becomes stuck in the stricture. [1] The backlog of saliva behind the blockage causes the swelling, and the increased pressure inside the gland causes the pain.
The blockage may be from a salivary stone, a mucous plug, or, more rarely, by a tumor, usually benign. Salivary stones (also called sialolithiasis, or salivary duct calculus) are mainly made of calcium, but do not indicate any kind of calcium disorder. [7] Other causes can be duct stricture (narrowing of the duct), infection or injury.
Sialadenitis (sialoadenitis) is inflammation of salivary glands, usually the major ones, the most common being the parotid gland, followed by submandibular and sublingual glands. [1] It should not be confused with sialadenosis (sialosis) which is a non-inflammatory enlargement of the major salivary glands. [2]
Sialolithiasis accounts for about 50% of all disease occurring in major salivary glands, and for about 66% of all obstructive salivary gland diseases. Salivary gland stones are twice as common in males as in females. The most common age range in which they occur is between 30 and 60, and they are uncommon in children. [2]
Salivary gland diseases (SGDs) are multiple and varied in cause. [1] There are three paired major salivary glands in humans: the parotid glands, the submandibular glands, and the sublingual glands. There are also about 800–1,000 minor salivary glands in the mucosa of the mouth.
The two parotid glands are major salivary glands wrapped around the mandibular ramus in humans. [6] These are largest of the salivary glands, secreting saliva to facilitate mastication and swallowing, and amylase to begin the digestion of starches. [7] It is the serous type of gland which secretes alpha-amylase (also known as ptyalin). [8]
Symptoms of dry mouth and dryness in the oral cavity are caused by the reduced production of saliva from the salivary glands (parotid gland, submandibular gland, and sublingual gland). In unstimulated whole saliva flow collection, the person spits into a test tube every minute for approximately 15 minutes. A resultant collection of less than 1. ...
However, the condition may arise anywhere minor salivary glands are located. [nb 1] It has also been occasionally reported to involve the major salivary glands. [2] [3] It may be present only on one side, or both sides. [1] The lesion typically is 1–4 cm in diameter. [4] Initially, the lesion is a tender, erythematous (red) swelling. Later ...