Your salivary glands make saliva that lubricates your mouth. They help you swallow, digest food and protect your teeth from bacteria. Conditions like salivary gland neoplasms (tumors) can affect these glands. Common symptoms of salivary gland disorders include dry mouth, fever or a lump in your cheek or under your chin.

Overview

Your salivary glands make saliva (spit) that keeps your mouth clean and helps you to swallow and digest food.

What are salivary glands?

Your salivary glands are small organs in your mouth that make saliva (spit). The saliva that the glands make keeps your mouth and throat moist. It also helps you swallow and digest food.

Types of salivary glands

You have several types of salivary glands, including:

  • Three major glands
  • Hundreds of minor glands

Function

What do salivary glands do?

Your salivary glands’ main job is to make lots of saliva (spit). Consider this: if you’re an adult, your salivary glands make about one to two liters (one to two quarts) of saliva every day. Over a year, that’s enough fluid to fill a bathtub. All that saliva works to support your oral health and overall health. For example, saliva:

  • Moistens food so it’s easier to swallow
  • Contains amylase, an enzyme that helps your stomach break down starches in food
  • Keeps your mouth clean
  • Protects your teeth from cavities

Anatomy

Where are salivary glands located?

The different glands and locations are:

  • Sublingual glands are below either side of your tongue, under the floor of your mouth.
  • Submandibular glands are below your jaw.
  • Parotid glands are just in front of your ears. They’re the largest of the three major glands and make about 50% of all the saliva in your mouth.
  • Minor salivary glands are mostly in your lips, palate, tongue and the inner lining of your cheeks.

What are the parts of my salivary glands?

Your parotid gland has two sections: The superficial section on top of your facial nerve and the deep section below the nerve. Your salivary glands are made of a group of specialized cells that release enzymes and mucus that help your body digest food.

How large are they?

The three major salivary glands are different sizes:

  • Each sublingual gland is about the size of an almond.
  • Together, your two submandibular glands are about the size of a walnut.
  • Each parotid gland is about the size of a prune.

Your minor salivary glands measure about 2 millimeters or less than 1/10 of an inch.

Conditions and Disorders

What are the common conditions and disorders that affect salivary glands?

Several conditions and disorders can affect your salivary glands. Common conditions and disorders are:

Salivary gland dysfunction

Salivary gland dysfunction means your salivary glands don’t work as they should. In most cases, this means that your salivary glands don’t make enough saliva. Several conditions and factors may cause your saliva supply to dry up (chronic dry mouth). These include:

Common symptoms of conditions that affect your salivary gland

The primary symptom of salivary gland conditions is dry mouth. Other symptoms include:

Care

How do I unclog my salivary glands?

Salivary stones can clog or block your salivary glands. You may be able to get rid of the stone by:

  • Drinking lots of water.
  • Sucking on a lemon or lemon drops.
  • Gently rubbing the area around the stone.

The stones may cause infections that cause pain and make the skin overlying your gland become very red and inflamed. Or they may ooze pus from the ducts that drain the gland. You should talk to a healthcare provider if you think you have an infection from a salivary stone.

A note from Wockr

Your salivary glands are small organs with a big job. They make saliva that helps you digest food and keep your teeth clean and in good health. Talk to a healthcare provider if you have dry mouth that doesn’t go away. Swelling and pain in your face and jaws are other reasons to talk to a provider. They’ll find out what’s going on with your salivary glands and recommend treatment.