ear, nose, and throat disorders
Salivary Gland Disorders
Treatment of Salivary Gland Disorders
For dry mouth, good dental hygiene and sometimes drugs For stones, pain relievers, fluids, physical measures, or sometimes removal For infection, antibiotics and physical measures For swelling, various treatments, possibly including surgery Fordry mouth,people should Avoid drugs that decrease saliva production Sip fluids throughout the day Brush and floss regularly Use fluoride rinses Visit their dentist for examination and cleaning every 3 to 4 months Sometimes a saliva substitute containing carboxymethylcellulose as a mouthwash Sometimes chew sugarless gum or suck onxylitollozenges Some dentists have people wear plastic tooth covers filled with fluoride gel at night to prevent tooth decay due to dry mouth. Sometimes, drugs that increase saliva production, such ascevimelineorpilocarpine, help relieve symptoms. Such drugs may not help when the salivary glands have been damaged by radiation. Forsalivary gland stones,people can take pain relievers (analgesics), drink extra fluids, massage the glands, apply warm compresses, and trigger saliva flow with lemon juice or wedges, sour candy, or a combination. If the stone does not pass on its own, a dentist can sometimes push the stone out by pressing on both sides of the duct. If that fails, a fine-wire‒like instrument can be used to pull out the stone. As a last resort, the stone can be removed surgically or through an endoscope. Forsalivary gland infection,doctors give antibiotics and have people massage the glands and apply warm compresses. A salivary abscess needs to be cut open and drained. Staying hydrated, triggering saliva with lemon juice and hard candies, and having good oral hygiene are also important. Salivary gland swellingtreatment varies with the cause. A mucocele that does not disappear on its own can be removed surgically if it becomes bothersome. Similarly, both noncancerous and cancerous salivary gland tumors can usually be removed surgically. 