Pain in the parotid gland

Introduction

Together with the salivary glands in the mouth and throat, the parotid gland belongs to the salivary glands. It is also known as the parotid gland. The saliva not only prepares food for digestion, but also ensures that the mucous membrane of the mouth is kept moist.

It also has an antibacterial effect. The most frequent causes of pain in the parotid gland are inflammation or salivary stones. In addition to the administration of painkillers to relieve pain, attempts are usually made to stimulate the flow of saliva by massaging the parotid gland and chewing gum in such a way that the salivary stones dissolve by themselves.

Causes

Parotid gland pain can have various causes. The most common cause is inflammation of the salivary glands. This is promoted by poor oral hygiene and an unbalanced water-mineral balance.

If little saliva is produced, this represents a considerable risk factor for the development of salivary gland inflammation. Since older people in particular often consume only small amounts of fluid, they are particularly at risk of developing parotid gland inflammation. Another common reason for the development of parotid gland inflammation is salivary stones, so-called sialoliths.

These can be found when the composition of the saliva is altered, as can be the case with metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus, or when far too little is drunk. Salivary stones can constrict the glandular exits of the parotid gland and thus impair the outflow of saliva. Bacteria can then settle in this congested saliva and lead to parotid gland inflammation.

In any case, they must be removed in case of complaints. Narrowed glandular ducts, for example due to previous illnesses such as cystic fibrosis or a mumps disease suffered in childhood, can also be the trigger. Certain medications taken for heart disease, allergies or depression can also lead to reduced saliva production resulting in parotid gland inflammation.

Alcohol can also promote this. You can find more information here: Salivary stones of the parotid gland Another cause of painful parotid gland inflammation is the childhood disease mumps. This virus-induced disease has become very rare since the introduction of vaccination. Tumors can also lead to pain in the parotid gland. These can be both benign and malignant, although the benign ones are much more common.