Pain in the mouth, worsening mainly with eating and moving the tongue, sometimes referred to as salivary colic, accompanied by a feeling of dry mouth, enlarged salivary glands, and even swelling - these are symptoms that can mean salivary gland stones.
Ailments are caused by the formation of deposits, the so-called stones, in the salivary gland duct or even in the tissues of the gland itself. Urolithiasis most often affects the submandibular glands, less often the parotid glands. It is not entirely clear why these plaques form -the causes of salivary gland stoneshave not been fully explained. Most oftenurolithiasisaffects mature people, over 40, men are twice as likely to suffer from it than women.
salivary gland stones: causes
Salivary gland stones are associated with disturbances in the production of saliva, leading to an increase in its viscosity. This is favored by a more alkaline pH, a higher calcium concentration and a higher mucin (protein) content, which results in a higher density of secreted saliva. It is known, however, that the development of stones in the salivary glands is favored by certain anatomical features, such as a long and tortuous salivary tube and its small opening in relation to its cross-section. The presence of foreign particles in the salivary gland ducts is not without significance - food particles, tartar crumbs, toothbrush hairs or toothpick sticks. The condition can also be caused by taking medications that reduce the production of saliva and cause it to thicken. Stones are formed due to the deposition of calcium s alts around the organic center, which may be exfoliated epithelium, bacteria or these foreign bodies. The stone is usually as small as a grain of sand or the head of a pin, although it can grow to a diameter of several millimeters. However, even a small one can block the salivary gland duct. Then there is pain, inflammation, oil spills. Ignored salivary gland calculi can lead to the destruction of the salivary gland and, consequently, to its necrosis and fibrosis.
Salivary gland stones - can it be prevented?
Since the causes of salivary gland stones are not fully recognized, there are no specific recommendations for prophylaxis. It is certainly important to use oral hygiene, rinsing it with herbal preparations with antiseptic properties. People'sIn the case of the first symptoms of salivary colic, medicine recommends rinsing the mouth with linden white infusion and eating dishes with hot spices - pepper or paprika. You should also drink a lot.
salivary gland stones - treatment
Treatment of urolithiasis is the removal of stones. The procedure is preceded by a clinical examination, it is sufficient when the stone in the salivary gland duct is easily palpable. It can also be supported by ultrasound or X-ray or salivary gland scintigraphy. Removal of stones results in immediate pain relief. The choice of method depends on their size and location. Conservative treatment is possible only with small stones the size of grains of sand. It consists in restoring the salivary tract, rinsing the mouth with an aqueous solution of chlorhexidine, gently massaging the area of the salivary gland in order to improve the outflow of saliva from the gland and administering salivary drugs. Larger stones are surgically removed. The traditional procedure involves incision of the salivary gland, and if the stone has lodged near the gland or inside it, the entire salivary gland is removed. Modern, less invasive methods focus on breaking stones with laser or ultrasound and administering saliva-forming drugs to quickly remove the crumbs.