Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAnatomyFunctionDiseasesIf You’re Concerned
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Anatomy
Function
Diseases
If You’re Concerned
milorad kravic / Getty Images
The parotid gland performs important functions and is involved in certain diseases, as well.
Dry mouth can significantly impact your quality of life. It can affect swallowing, create a burning feeling in the mouth, and predispose you to cavities.
You have two parotid glands, each one located in front of each ear. You also have two other major salivary glands, which are called the sublingual (under the tongue) and submandibular (under the jaw) glands.
All three salivary glands attach to a tube, called a duct, that transports saliva from the gland to the mouth. The duct attached to the parotid gland is called Stensen’s duct.
The function of the parotid gland and other two major salivary glands is to produce and secrete saliva, a substance that helps break food down so you can digest it properly.
Saliva also helps to defend against bacteria and prevent cavities.
Diseases of the Parotid Gland
Several types of medical conditions can affect your salivary glands, including dry mouth,infection, stones, and tumors.
Xerostomia (Dry Mouth)
When your salivary glands don’t function properly and either stop or produce too little saliva, you can develop a dry mouth. Medically, this is called xerostomia. This condition has a number of potential causes, including:
Dry Mouth Causes and Treatment
Sialadenitis (Infection)
Sialadenitis is a bacterial or viral infection that can affect the parotid gland as well as the submandibular gland. It most often arises after slowed drainage from the gland from a partial obstruction results in a secondary infection.
Symptoms may include:
Sialadenitis is most common in people with a chronic illness or who become dehydrated.
If the infection isn’t promptly treated, an abscess may form, which may require drainage.
A chronic form of sialadenitis, which is usually related to an obstruction rather than an infection, can occur. In these cases, surgery to perform all or part of the gland is a treatment option.
Sialolithiasis (Obstruction)
Sialolithiasis is an obstruction that’s due to a stone (calculus) blocking the Stensen’s duct, which carries saliva to your mouth.
If the obstruction is due to a stone, initial treatment may include:
If this doesn’t work, your healthcare provider can use an instrument to remove the stone.
Stones close to the duct opening on the floor of the mouth can sometimes be removed through your mouth. Stones that lie deeper in the duct are more challenging to treat, as using instruments in this region could damage a nerve.
If stones are chronic and severe, the parotid gland itself may need to be removed, but this is not done if at all possible.
Other less common causes of obstruction in the parotid gland include:
Inflammatory/Infiltrative Disorders of the Parotid Gland
Mumps (Viral) Infection and the Parotid Gland
Outbreaks still occur occasionally, but it is a rarity now. If you have symptoms of mumps, it is important to see a healthcare provider for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
What Is Mumps?
Tumors
The parotid gland can also develop growths or masses, called tumors. These tumors are often benign rather than malignant (cancerous). In contrast, tumors of the other major salivary glands, as well as the minor salivary glands, are often malignant. Malignant parotid tumors are usually either mucoepidermoid and adenocystic carcinomas, or adenocarcinomas.
What to Do If You’re Concerned
If you notice swelling or tenderness over your parotid gland, talk to your healthcare provider. Not only could your discomfort signal an infection or stone which should be treated, but a swollen parotid gland might also indicate an underlying disease process.
Your primary care healthcare provider may refer you to an ear, nose, and throat doctor (ENT) for further evaluation.
A Word From Verywell
The parotid glands on each side of your face perform an important function in creating saliva, which in turn aids in digestion, lubricates your mouth, and inhibits dental decay. Infections and stones in the parotid glands may require treatment, and swelling of the parotid glands may provide important clues as to the presence of other medical concerns as well.
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Encyclopaedia Britannica.Salivary Glands.
The American Academy of Oral Medicine.Xerostomia.
American Cancer Society.Mouth dryness or thick saliva.
National Institutes of Health, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences.Sialadenitis.
TeachMe Surgery.Sialolithiasis.
Erkul E, Çekin E, Güngör A.Long-Term Outcomes of Sialendoscopy in the Management of Sialolithiasis and Idiopathic Chronic Sialadenitis with Ductal Scars.Turk Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2019;57(2):75–80. doi:10.5152/tao.2019.4290
Pastor-Ramos V, Cuervo-Díaz A, Aracil-Kessler L.Sialolithiasis. Proposal for a new minimally invasive procedure: Piezoelectric surgery.J Clin Exp Dent. 2014;6(3):e295–e298. Published 2014 Jul 1. doi:10.4317/jced.51253
Wilson KF, Meier JD, Ward PD.Salivary gland disorders.Am Fam Physician. 89(11):882–888.
Ungprasert P, Crowson CS, Matteson EL.Clinical Characteristics of Parotid Gland Sarcoidosis: A Population-Based Study.JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2016;142(5):503–504. doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2016.0061
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Mumps.
Ho K, Lin H, Ann DK, Chu PG, Yen Y.An overview of the rare parotid gland cancer.Head Neck Oncol. 2011;3:40. doi:10.1186/1758-3284-3-40
Kasper, Dennis L.., Anthony S. Fauci, and Stephen L.. Hauser.Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine.New York: Mc Graw Hill education. Print.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
