Sialolithiasis consists of inflammation and obstruction of the ducts of the salivary glands due to the formation of stones in that region, leading to the appearance of symptoms such as pain, swelling, difficulty in swallowing and malaise.
Treatment can be done through massage and stimulation of saliva production and in more severe cases, it may be necessary to resort to surgery.
Main symptoms
The main symptoms caused by sialolithiasis are pain in the face, mouth and neck that can get worse before or during meals, which is when saliva production by the salivary glands increases. This saliva is blocked, causing pain and swelling in the mouth, face and neck and difficulty swallowing.
In addition, the mouth may become drier, and bacterial infections may also arise, causing symptoms such as fever, bad taste in the mouth and redness in the region.
Possible causes
Sialolithiasis occurs due to the clogging of the ducts of the salivary glands, which is caused by stones that can form due to the crystallization of saliva substances such as calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate, causing the saliva to become trapped in the glands and cause swelling.
It is not known for certain what causes the formation of these stones, but it is thought that it is due to certain medications, such as antihypertensives, antihistamines or anticholinergics, which reduce the amount of saliva produced in the glands, or dehydration that makes the more concentrated saliva, or even for having an insufficient diet, which leads to a reduction in saliva production.
In addition, people with gout are more likely to suffer from sialolithiasis, due to the formation of stones by the crystallization of uric acid.
Sialolithiasis occurs most often in the salivary ducts connected to the submandibular glands, however, stones can also form in the ducts connected to the parotid glands and very rarely in the sublingual glands.
How to confirm the diagnosis
Sialolithiasis can be diagnosed through clinical evaluation and tests such as computed tomography, ultrasound and sialography.
How the treatment is done
In cases where the size of the stone is small, the treatment can be done at home, taking sugarless candies and drinking lots of water, in order to stimulate the production of saliva and force the stone out of the duct. You can also apply heat and gently massage the affected area.
In more severe cases, the doctor may try to remove this stone by pressing on both sides of the duct so that it comes out, and if this is not possible, it may be necessary to resort to surgery to remove it. In some cases, shock waves can also be used to break the stones into smaller pieces, in order to facilitate their passage through the ducts.
In the presence of an infection of the salivary glands, which can occur due to the presence of stagnant saliva, it may also be necessary to take antibiotics.
