Sialadenitis

What is sialadenitis?

Sialadenitis is an infection of the salivary glands, which make saliva.

Saliva is essential because it helps with killing germs in your mouth, digesting food, preventing bad breath, and protecting against tooth decay.

There are three main salivary glands: near the ears (parotid), under the tongue (sublingual), and under the bottom jaw (submandibular). All produce saliva that flows through salivary ducts (tiny tubes), directly into your mouth.

Sialadenitis is painful, but it’s not an emergency unless there is so much mouth swelling that you’re having difficulty breathing. If that happens, go straight to the ER.

Otherwise, contact your doctor for advice on relieving symptoms.

Most common symptoms

Sialadenitis can affect any or all of the salivary glands. The infected glands become painful and swollen.

Discomfort may be felt in front of the ear on either side, under the jaw on either side, or inside your mouth. You may have decreased saliva.

Other symptoms include fever and chills, which are general signs of infection.

Main symptoms

• Pain and swelling near the ears, in the mouth, or under the jaw (depending on which glands are involved).
• Decreased saliva production.
• Dry mouth.
• Pain with eating.
• Fever and chills.

How do you treat sialadenitis?

A doctor needs to know whether the infection is bacterial or viral. Usually, if it’s in glands on both sides of your mouth, it’s likely viral. If it’s only on one side of your mouth, it’s bacterial.

If it’s a bacterial infection, you can take an antibiotic. Viruses need time to get better on their own.

Whether bacterial or viral, these treatments of sialadenitis may relieve some symptoms.

• Drink lots of water and fluids, ideally 6 to 8 8-oz glasses of water per day.
• Try natural ways of boosting saliva (called sialogogues). Sucking hard candies and chewing sugarless gum are two good options.
• Apply warm compresses on the affected glands and painful areas.
• Gently massage painful areas on your cheek or under your jaw with fingertips (this can help manually express any infection that is in the gland or ducts).
• Brush and floss at least twice daily.

What antibiotics treat sialadenitis?

Treating a bacterial infection requires antibiotics. Typically, doctors will prescribe dicloxacillin (Dycill) or cephalexin (Keflex) for sialadenitis. Always finish the medications as instructed, even if your symptoms improve while you are taking the medicine.

If you get sialadenitis again, see your doctor or an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) specialist to check why the infection keeps coming back.

What causes sialadenitis?

Any decrease in saliva production increases the risk of bacterial infection. Saliva controls the amount of bacteria in the mouth.

Possible causes of decreased saliva include dehydration. This is especially common in hospital patients, people recovering from surgery, and the elderly.

Taking certain medications that can cause dehydration, such as diuretics, antihistamines, beta blockers, or barbiturates, can also decrease saliva production.

Anyone with decreased saliva is also more susceptible to developing salivary gland stones, small calcium deposits in the salivary ducts that block the flow of saliva. This can cause a backup of saliva in the gland and a buildup of bacteria that can lead to inflammation and infection.

Some viruses (most commonly mumps), a complex autoimmune condition called Sjogren’s syndrome, and the eating disorder anorexia nervosa can also trigger sialadenitis, but overall these causes are less common causes than dehydration.

Preventative tips

• Staying well-hydrated is key.
• Good oral hygiene includes brushing and flossing teeth twice a day.
• Viral sialadenitis caused by mumps can be prevented with the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine. These vaccines are usually given in childhood.