Inflammation of the salivary glands (sialoadenitis). Where is the parotid salivary gland located? Inflammation of the parotid salivary gland: causes, symptoms, treatment

Even a small child knows that saliva is secreted in our mouth; it is needed to process food. But only a few adults know which organs synthesize this secretion, which is very sad. The glands that produce saliva can become inflamed, creating difficulty swallowing food, discomfort, and pain. Find out what symptoms accompany inflammation of the salivary glands and how this ailment is treated.

What is sialadenitis

By studying anatomy, you can find out that in the jaw of each person there are three pairs of salivary glands and a large number of small salivary ducts. Due to various inflammatory processes, the functioning of the glands may be disrupted. This inflammation in medicine is called sialadenitis. The disease often occurs as a complication of the underlying disease. Most often one gland becomes inflamed, but in advanced forms multiple lesions are possible.

Symptoms of inflammation of the salivary gland

General signs of the inflammatory process of the salivary glands, regardless of their location, are:

pain in the area of the root of the tongue when swallowing or making chewing movements;
swelling of the face or neck in the affected area;
high body temperature (39-40 degrees);
violation of taste perception.

After some time, other symptoms of sialadenitis appear, which depend on the type of salivary gland. In the photo you can see the symptoms of sialadenitis.

Parotid

The parotid glands are the largest, each weighing from 20 to 30 g. They are located in the facial area between the cheekbone and lower jaw. The first signs of the disease appear 7-10 days after infection and are accompanied by headache, fever, and general weakness. The main symptom of inflammation is the appearance of swelling (which quickly increases) in the area near the ear. The patient feels severe discomfort and pain while eating; as a result, appetite decreases and intestinal disorders may begin.

Submandibular

This type of gland is located just below the back teeth, under the jaw, is small in size, the weight of each organ is 14-16 g. If a stone has formed in the salivary duct, the disease is accompanied by bursting pain in the tongue and floor of the mouth, the release of viscous saliva with pus or mucus. As a result, secretion production may stop completely. Since the outflow of saliva is slowed down, the submandibular salivary gland increases during meals and then decreases.

Sublingual

The salivary glands are located under the lining of the mouth, on both sides of the tongue. They are the smallest of the three pairs, each organ weighs no more than 5 g. Often, inflammation under the tongue occurs simultaneously with inflammation of the submandibular gland. The disease is accompanied by an unpleasant taste in the mouth, impaired taste, swelling of the tongue and a sensation of painful swelling underneath, pain when opening the mouth.

Causes of inflammation

To make a correct diagnosis, it is necessary to find out the factors causing the pathology. The main reasons include:

penetration of a viral infection into the ducts of the salivary glands (pneumonia, influenza);
damage to organs that produce saliva by bacteria (pneumococci, staphylococci, streptococci); as a result, immunity decreases;
operation;
injuries and blockage of the ducts due to the entry of foreign bodies into them (hair, toothbrush villi, fruit peels);
weakened immunity.

Salivary stone disease

This inflammation is characterized by the formation of stones in the salivary ducts. Often salivary stone disease occurs in the ducts of the sublingual and submandibular glands. The causes of pathology may be:

consequence of mechanical impact on an organ, its injury;
congenital anatomical features of the structure of the salivary ducts, which lead to stagnation of saliva and the formation of stones;
excess or deficiency of vitamin A in the body;
disturbance of calcium metabolism.

Salivary gland blockage

Stagnation or blocking of the normal flow of saliva occurs in the large glands (submandibular, parotid). The disease is accompanied by pain while eating. Factors that provoke blockage of the gland are:

dehydration;
poor nutrition;
damage to organs that produce saliva;
stone in the salivary gland;
taking certain psychotropic and antihistamine medications.

Cancer

This pathology occurs very rarely and has been little studied in medicine. Cancer often affects men and women over 50 years of age. At an early stage, the disease occurs without symptoms, after some time the malignant tumor begins to grow and becomes noticeable. If detected untimely, the treatment prognosis may be unfavorable. The exact causes of such malignant formations have not been determined. People who have salivary gland injuries or smoke excessively are considered to be at risk.

Cyst

A cystic benign neoplasm often occurs on the mucous membrane of the cheeks and lower lip, and can sometimes appear on the tongue. The reasons for the development of cysts include:

mechanical damage, injuries;
poor hygiene oral cavity;
bad habits and unhealthy diet;
the formation of scars that narrow the salivary canal;
infections affecting the mouth and teeth.

Other diseases of the salivary glands

Other common diseases in which the gland becomes inflamed include:

mumps (mumps) is an infectious disease;
benign (pleomorphic adenoma and Warthin's tumor) and malignant (adenocarcinoma, adenoid cystic cancer) tumors;
xerodermatosis or Sjögren's syndrome;
influenza-induced scaladenia;
calculous sialadenitis;
acute sialadenitis;
cytomegaly.

Treatment

For acute lesions, antibiotics are prescribed.
If there are purulent accumulations, then surgical intervention is recommended. It is necessary to make incisions and remove the pus.
For chronic inflammation, complex treatment is necessary, including following a diet to increase salivation, immunostimulating and anti-inflammatory therapy.
In the initial stages of the disease, conservative therapy is used and, in addition to it, treatment with folk remedies (rinses, decoctions, infusions). You can use citric acid and soda solutions to rinse your mouth.

To determine the type of disease, your doctor may prescribe the following diagnostic methods:

computed tomography;
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging);
Ultrasound of the salivary glands.

Which doctor should I contact?

Many people do not know which doctor treats sialadenitis. The first step is to make sure that you do not have mumps (mumps). This viral disease is diagnosed by an infectious disease specialist. Other inflammations of the salivary glands are treated by a dentist or therapist. In case of complications or accumulation of pus, the formation of stones in the salivary ducts, surgical intervention is necessary, which will be carried out by a surgeon.

Video about salivary gland tumor

The tongue is the most important organ in the human body, which performs various functions. Sudden pain and inflammation under the tongue indicate the development of a pathological condition. It is important to promptly seek specialized help, undergo diagnostics and begin treatment for the disease.

Reasons for the development of inflammation

Inflammatory processes in the oral cavity cannot be classified as common pathologies. However, unpleasant symptoms can still appear in people of different age categories. If you experience pain or swelling under your tongue, you should contact your dentist or otolaryngologist. In this case, the doctor can diagnose sialadenitis - inflammation of the gland under the tongue.

This is a rather insidious disease, which often develops asymptomatically and is detected already in an advanced stage. All three pairs of salivary glands located in the oral cavity are susceptible to it. Inflammation develops against the background of an existing infection in the body.

The causes of inflammation of the salivary gland under the tongue include the following factors:

presence of dental problems;
tonsils;
sore throat;
poor oral hygiene;
allergic reaction.

Sialadenitis may have a viral or bacterial etiology. In the first case, the disease is called (popularly called mumps). The virus affects the parotid glands. With a nonspecific bacterial infection, the pathogenic agent can enter the glands through ducts from the oral cavity or through lymph and blood.

Inflammation of the frenulum under the tongue

The tongue is connected to the lower jaw thanks to the frenulum - a thin membrane of skin. It holds the tongue and participates in the formation of the correct pronunciation of sounds. It contains a large number of nerve endings and blood vessels. Therefore, with the development of a pathological condition, the frenulum becomes especially sensitive. During the inflammatory process, doing familiar things - talking, chewing food - becomes painful.

Inflammation of the hyoid frenulum can be provoked by various dental diseases, injuries associated with active work, inflammation of the lymph nodes or tissues of the tongue, and bad habits. The painful sensations that arise in this case negatively affect the quality of life. To identify the true etiology of the syndrome, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

How to determine inflammation of the salivary gland?

The disease is characterized by the manifestation of certain symptoms. First of all, the amount of saliva produced decreases and dryness appears in the oral cavity. Pain increases when eating, talking, opening and closing the mouth.

Inflammation of the salivary gland under the tongue is accompanied by redness and swelling of the mucous surface in the area of the outbreak. The secretion secreted by the gland may contain pus and mucus. If there is a danger of melting the salivary capsule of the gland and spreading the disease to nearby tissues. If the disease is infectious in nature, the patient experiences a significant deterioration in his general condition: body temperature rises, weakness, nausea appear, and appetite disappears.

The appearance of pain under the tongue while eating may indicate this problem. Parents of young children usually face this problem. Doctors recommend cutting the frenulum at an early age so that the child does not have problems pronouncing certain sounds in the future.

Diagnostics

It is impossible to make a diagnosis on your own in this case. All three salivary glands are susceptible to inflammation. In addition, the disease can affect several glands at the same time. The examination should be carried out by a dentist or therapist. When examining a patient, a doctor can detect pus discharge and establish the exact location of the inflammatory process.

If the inflammation under the tongue is complicated by an abscess, an ultrasound or computed tomography may be needed. Most often, to make a diagnosis, a doctor only needs to examine the patient’s laboratory test results. Cytological examination of saliva allows you to accurately determine which pathogen caused the development of inflammation of the gland.

How to treat?

The disease should be treated in the early stages of development. Chronic pathology is practically not amenable to medication and will periodically remind itself. To treat the disease, antiviral, anti-inflammatory medications, and sometimes antibiotics are usually prescribed. Particular attention is paid to local treatment.

During the therapeutic process, patients are recommended to take medications that will increase salivary secretion. Medicines such as Pilocarpine, Potassium Iodide and Galantamine are usually administered using physiotherapeutic methods (electrophoresis, galvanization). In case of severe pain syndrome, surgical intervention is indicated only in severe cases, when inflammation under the tongue is accompanied by the formation of purulent accumulations.

Treatment of a chronic inflammatory process in the salivary glands takes more than long time. Doctors recommend that during exacerbations of the disease, taking antibacterial drugs and medications that will increase the secretion of salivary fluid. Patients suffering from a chronic type of sialadenitis need regular prevention of pathology.

Inflammation under the tongue: treatment with traditional methods

You can also get rid of pathology using proven folk methods. They are used in combination with traditional treatment methods. Rinsing the mouth with a saline solution will help get rid of inflammation of the salivary gland. To prepare it, it is better to use sea salt. For a glass of warm water you need to take a teaspoon of salt. The oral cavity is treated with this solution after each meal.

If the inflammation in the mouth under the tongue has an infectious etiology, a weak substance should be used. The substance has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. You can also cleanse the oral cavity of pathogenic pathogens using baking soda. The solution is prepared at the rate of 1 teaspoon of soda per 200 ml of hot water. You should rinse your mouth after the solution has cooled to an acceptable temperature (30-35 °C).

In case of inflammation of the salivary gland, experts recommend not to self-medicate and seek medical help as soon as possible. This will allow timely initiation of adequate therapy and elimination of inflammation under the tongue without serious complications.

Forms of the disease that occur without complications can be successfully treated at home. However, in some cases it is impossible to do without a stationary regime.

Do I need to follow a diet?

Proper nutrition during treatment is the key to a speedy recovery. Food should be well chopped. Excessive chewing movements will only increase painful sensations and will irritate the inflamed area of the mucous membrane in the oral cavity. The menu should consist of soups, vegetable and meat purees, and cereals.

Particular attention is paid to the drinking regime. Before starting your meal, you should drink dried fruit compote, fruit drinks or water with lemon juice. This will help stimulate the production of salivary fluid.

A common disease in the autumn-winter period is inflammation of the salivary gland, the symptoms of which are determined by the doctor. Its complications can cause very adverse consequences. It is necessary to know why inflammation of the salivary glands occurs, what are its symptoms, what is the danger of the disease and how it is treated.

Typology of the disease

A person has 3 pairs of glands that produce saliva, which is necessary for the normal digestion of food. There are parotid, submandibular and sublingual glands. The parotid salivary glands are the largest and are located slightly below the ear. The submandibular glands are located directly under the jaw, and the sublingual glands are located below the mucous membrane on either side of the tongue.

The gland ducts open directly in the mouth. If they become inflamed, normal saliva production is disrupted. Inflammation of these glands is called sialadenitis. If only the parotid glands become inflamed, the disease is called mumps. Multiple inflammation of the glands is quite rare.

Acute sialadenitis can be of the following types:

contact (it occurs due to purulent inflammation of adipose tissue located near the salivary glands, or due to the opening of lesions);
bacterial (developing after an infectious disease, oral surgery);
traumatic (occurs due to the entry of a foreign body into the oral cavity, injuring the salivary glands);
lymphogenous (arising due to disease of the lymph nodes, which often occurs in people with a weak immune system).

Chronic lymphadenitis is of the following types:

interstitial (can occur as a complication of diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension);
parenchymatous (such sialadenitis is the cause of the formation of cystic formations in the oral cavity, as a result of which the anatomical structure and normal outflow of saliva are disrupted);
if a person develops damage to the excretory ducts, then sialodochitis develops.

Causes of inflammatory diseases of the salivary glands

The main reason for the development of the disease is the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the mouth. The submandibular salivary gland can become ill due to the presence in a person’s mouth of teeth affected by caries, which are a source of infection. If a person’s immune system is weakened or he suffers from chronic metabolic diseases, then the salivary glands are extremely vulnerable to such pathogenic factors.

Much less often, inflammation of the sublingual salivary gland can develop due to surgical intervention. This happens when disinfection is poor or if a person does not maintain good oral hygiene after surgery. The following infectious diseases also contribute to sialadenitis:

tuberculosis;
actinomycosis;
acute respiratory viral infections;
cytomegaloviruses.

Sometimes even dehydration can cause disease of the salivary glands. This is due to the fact that dry mucous membranes contribute to increased irritation of the oral cavity.

Causes and symptoms of mumps

Mumps is caused by pathogenic viruses. The disease is more common in cold winters. Children aged 7-10 years are most often affected. Adults also often get sick. The disease can be mild, moderate or severe.

In mild cases, the symptoms of the disease are very mild or absent altogether.

Inflammation of the parotid salivary gland in mild cases of the disease is characterized by swelling of varying degrees of severity. Usually such swelling is one-sided. The temperature is usually low-grade and decreases over several days. When the salivary gland is massaged, a small amount of saliva is released. When the pathology is of moderate severity, then at the beginning of the disease there is a so-called prodromal syndrome. It is characterized by:

malaise;
headache and joint pain;
muscle pain;
pronounced decrease in appetite.

Gradually they are joined by other signs:

temperature jump;
severe inflammation of the parotid gland and its swelling;
increasing its size;
decrease, and sometimes complete absence of saliva secretion.

In severe cases of the disease, a sharp increase in the size of the gland is noticeable. The skin over the inflammatory focus becomes very tense and painful. There is hyperemia of the pharynx and inflammation of the oral mucosa. There is practically no saliva produced. In the first 5 days, the body temperature is very high.

The main symptoms of the inflammatory process

Regardless of which gland the inflammatory process occurs in, a person experiences the following symptoms:

dryness in the oral cavity (it appears due to the fact that the glands produce an insufficient amount of saliva, and the mucous membrane dries out);
pain in the diseased gland (patients describe it as shooting);
pain during chewing and swallowing, which significantly disrupts the digestive processes;
pain when opening the mouth;
swelling in the area of the diseased gland;
unpleasant, sometimes metallic taste in the mouth;
the appearance of accumulations of pus;
the sublingual or submandibular gland may increase in size, and then a person may feel a small dense formation in his mouth;
distension and pressure in the area of the gland (this indicates that pus is accumulating in it);
a jump in body temperature (sometimes even up to 39°C).

How dangerous is mumps?

If mumps is not treated, a number of dangerous diseases can occur in the body. However, even if they do not manifest themselves, there is still a high risk of acute mumps becoming chronic. In boys and adult men, the infection can spread through the bloodstream into the testicles. Acute inflammation of these glands begins suddenly.

The patient is experiencing very severe pain in the testicles. The skin of the scrotum swells, turns red and becomes smooth and hot. Any touch to the scrotum causes increased pain. Body temperature can jump to 40°C. Active treatment measures promote recovery within about a week.
Acute orchitis is fraught with various diseases. The most dangerous of them is purulent inflammation of the testicle, or pyocele. It can lead to the formation of a purulent fistula or even melting of the testicle. Purulent inflammation of the testicle is treated only with orchiectomy, that is, surgical removal of the testicle. Chronic orchitis threatens the development of infertility.

Acute meningitis is no less dangerous. This is a purulent disease of the membranes of the brain, sometimes occurring at lightning speed. Symptoms of this disease are a sharp headache and severe fever. If acute meningitis is not treated urgently, stunning, coma and, finally, death occur.

In children, an extremely severe course can develop within just a few hours after the onset of the disease. Mortality rates, despite the recent use of increasingly effective drugs, remain quite high. In addition, acute mumps can cause inflammation of the following organs:

pancreas;
mammary glands;
joints;

You must be especially careful if ear inflammation occurs: if it is not treated or done incorrectly, absolute hearing loss may occur.

Methods of treating inflammation of the salivary glands

Sialadenitis should only be treated by a specialist. If you do this incorrectly, taking various “folk” remedies, you can contribute to the rapid transformation of this disease into a chronic stage. If the patient consults a specialist in a timely manner, then conservative antibacterial and anti-inflammatory therapy will be quite sufficient. All uncomplicated forms of this pathology are treated on an outpatient basis.

First of all, bed rest is necessary. Food should be crushed so as not to cause irritation to the oral cavity. To reduce the symptoms of poisoning of the body by bacterial waste products, drinking plenty of fluids is recommended. Local treatment is quite effective. Doctors recommend applying dry heat to the affected area. Compresses based on camphor alcohol are useful, they resolve inflammation. Physiotherapeutic procedures have the same effect.

To facilitate the secretion of saliva, a special diet is prescribed. Desirable:

eat crushed crackers;
hold a small piece of lemon in your mouth;
enrich the diet with sauerkraut, cranberries and other acidic foods that stimulate salivation.

To stimulate this process, it is recommended to take pilocarpine solution only as prescribed by a doctor. It removes microorganisms accumulated in the oral cavity and glands and prevents saliva stagnation. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are usually prescribed to reduce pain. Preference is given to Baralgin, Ibuprofen, Pentalgin and others.

They relieve pain well, relieve inflammation, and lower temperature. When treating with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, it is very important to follow the dosage and not exceed the maximum permissible daily amount.

Antibacterial therapy is prescribed strictly as prescribed by the doctor only if treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs does not bring results. Sometimes, if conservative therapy is ineffective, drainage of the salivary gland and even its opening may be required. This usually happens if a large amount of pus has accumulated in the organ.

Treatment of mumps

Mild forms of this disease are treated on an outpatient basis. However, if mumps is severe, the patient must be hospitalized. All persons with mumps must be quarantined for at least 3 weeks. In children's institutions, it is possible to use a live vaccine to prevent further spread of infection.

Symptomatic treatment plays an important role.

Bed rest should be observed for 1 week, or even better - 10 days. It is advisable to give the patient foods that stimulate saliva production. Alcohol, fatty foods, flour products, spices and smoked foods are completely excluded during acute mumps, as they contribute to a more severe course of the disease.

It is necessary to brush your teeth and rinse your mouth with antiseptic solutions 2 times a day. If the body temperature is normal, then physiotherapeutic treatment using dry heat is prescribed. It is applied to the affected area. It is important to maintain drinking regime and not to get overcooled.

If a boy or man develops orchitis, it is extremely important to stay in bed and avoid intense physical activity.

To reduce the intensity of the inflammatory process, anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics are used. It is recommended to wear a suspensor - a special bandage that supports the scrotum in a physiological state and helps reduce pain.

Prevention of salivary gland diseases

The most important preventive measure is careful hygiene. It is very important to monitor the health of your gums, teeth and tonsils and promptly treat their diseases. And, of course, it is necessary to avoid hypothermia in every possible way. Strengthening the body's immune system will reduce the susceptibility of the salivary glands to the penetration of microbes into them and prevent the development of inflammatory phenomena in response to this.

If an oral disease occurs, every effort must be made to get rid of it as quickly as possible. Timely sanitation of the oral cavity is the most important preventive measure to prevent the development of all forms of sialadenitis.

So, inflammation of the salivary glands is unsafe for humans. And its treatment should begin as early as possible, since otherwise no less dangerous complications may develop. If necessary, therapeutic measures should be carried out in a hospital setting. Children must be taught from an early age to maintain oral hygiene and hardening.

In people, there is a sublingual salivary gland under the tongue, and in total there are 3 pairs of them in the mouth, in addition to the voiced one, there is also a parotid and submandibular one, and when an infection occurs, the infection basically covers all the ducts, which is due to their interconnection.

The salivary glands are not limited to 3 large pairs and there are many small ducts and they all play an important role in the digestion process, as well as in the metabolism of proteins, so if there is inflammation in the mouth somewhere under the tongue, then you should go to the hospital to find out the cause of the problem and prevent complications.

Causes of the inflammatory process

Children are most susceptible to this problem, when everything under the tongue is swollen and painful, and the cause of this is an infection transmitted through the air and through the saliva of the patient.

In addition, it is rare when the infection concerns only one sublingual gland and the submandibular gland keeps it company. This disease must be treated immediately after the first symptoms appear, otherwise the disease may develop into more severe pathologies such as meningitis and encephalitis.

In addition, complications caused by reluctance to undergo a course of therapy disrupt the functioning of internal organs, because saliva is an integral part of the digestion process and without it, solid and unprocessed lumps of food will enter the stomach, thereby disrupting the functioning of the entire gastrointestinal tract system.

You can find out that the salivary gland under the tongue is inflamed by the symptoms characteristic of this problem, for example, swelling appears, the skin in this place becomes elastic, and sometimes with a red tint and shines.

As for the ducts through which saliva exits, they become very narrow, and if the cause of the disease is an infection, then the inflammatory process is divided into the following types:

Catarrhal;
Purulent;
Gangrenous.

The causes of the disease that was caused by infection can be:

Pneumonia;
One of the types of typhus;
Flu;
Dental pathologies;
A surgical intervention during which an infection was introduced.

The reasons that can cause a tumor under the tongue are quite serious, so if you feel weakness in the body and dryness in the mouth, accompanied by swelling of the face and neck, as well as pain during swallowing, you should immediately consult a doctor.

The doctor will be required to conduct an examination, conduct a survey and examine the patient to exclude stomatitis and allergic reactions. The course of treatment includes rinsing the mouth with special antiseptic and anti-inflammatory solutions, following a strict diet and plenty of rest, but in advanced cases surgery may be necessary.

You can avoid such pathologies by adhering to the following rules:

Maintain oral hygiene;
Do a self-examination of the oral cavity at least once a week;
Treat emerging pathologies to the end and do not neglect them;
If thick plaque or stones occur, have it professionally cleaned by a doctor;
Visit the dentist for a preventive examination 2-3 times a year.

These rules will minimize the chances of this kind of problem occurring, but if upon examination a swelling of the frenulum under the tongue is detected, then you need to go to the hospital as soon as possible. This disease quickly develops into an acute form and this can serve as the beginning of the appearance of malignant formations in the mouth.

Inflammation in the parotid gland

When everything under the tongue is swollen and painful, the cause may lie not only in the sublingual gland, but also in the parotid gland. The main culprit for this is considered to be a viral infection.

Swelling of the parotid salivary gland is called mumps and it affects mainly children under the age of 10-12 years, and if such a disease occurs in the older generation, then the disease has a more severe course compared to the development of pathology in children.

Mumps is another name for mumps, and despite the funny name, if treatment is not started immediately after the first symptoms appear, the disease can leave its traces for life, namely:

Doctors distinguish three courses of the disease:

Lung;
Average;
Heavy.

Regardless, they have common symptoms such as:

Weakness;
Fever;
Swelling of the gland;
Dry mouth.

Many children have suffered from mumps, and parents should pay special attention to this disease, because it can leave complications that will cause discomfort for their child in the future.

Inflammation of the submandibular gland

If the submandibular salivary gland hurts and is swollen, then the reason may be hidden in the stones that have appeared in its ducts.

The cause of their occurrence is considered to be:

This pathology is characterized by the following symptoms:

Swelling of the salivary glands;
Stitching pain;
Discharge of pus and viscous mucus;
Dry mouth;
Severe pain when swallowing food.

If the essence of the problem is an infection, then it is treated with rinsing and a strict diet, and when there is a foreign object in the ducts, then everything is much simpler, it is carefully removed and after 2-3 days everything returns to normal.

Inflammation of the large salivary glands occurs with similar symptoms, but they all require immediate treatment so that the pathology does not worsen.

Inflammation of the tongue is not a very common disease, but at the same time it has many causes. In particular, such seemingly harmless things as damage from a tooth fragment, hard food and accidental biting can cause an unpleasant phenomenon.

Causes of inflammation under the tongue

But the main reason why inflammation under the tongue may occur is the inflammatory process of the salivary glands. It can be determined quite easily by looking under the tongue. If there is an inflammatory process in this area, bright red colors will be present.

Moreover, most often inflammation occurs in the sublingual gland. The cause of the inflammatory process may be:

past viral diseases;
stones forming in the salivary ducts;
dental diseases;
inflammation of the tonsils;
entry of foreign objects.

In addition, the inflammatory process can occur against the background of other serious diseases, such as cancer. The tongue can also become inflamed due to dermatological diseases, vitamin deficiencies, inflammation of the lymph nodes and allergic reactions. In a word, there are quite a few reasons, but correct diagnosis of an unpleasant phenomenon will allow one to completely cope with the disease, and from the standpoint of modern medical advances this is not particularly difficult.

Symptoms of the disease and their manifestation

Inflammation under the tongue begins with acute pain during swallowing and swelling of the muscle. At the same time, discomfort increases significantly during such a harmless process as eating. The patient may find an infiltrate in the area of inflammation that is painful to the touch. Swelling and redness appear on the mucous membrane near the salivary glands, and pressing on the sore area leads to the release of pus or cloudy fluid.

The main symptoms include such manifestations as burning and redness of the tongue, the formation of a white coating on its surface, swelling and painful softness of the mouth muscles, as well as difficulty and discomfort when eating.

Inflammation of the tongue can be either temporary or chronic. The chronic form of the disease most often occurs with prolonged exposure to an unpleasant factor in a person’s background, leading to such unpleasant consequences as growths on the tongue. That is why, if serious inflammation is detected, you must immediately contact a specialist.

Treatment of inflammation: at home or in the clinic?

Treatment of the disease in most cases is carried out on an outpatient basis. Depending on the patient’s condition, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics or sulfa drugs. Directly into the salivary duct, after removing all the secretion contained in it, the doctor injects or, diluted with novocaine.

The patient will be prescribed a mouth rinse, for which a solution of boric or acetic acids is usually used, which promote increased salivation. Also, the patient should take care of the oral cavity in the most thorough manner. When treating inflammation under the tongue, physiotherapy such as UHF, Sollux, and heating pads are indicated.

To prevent the risk of complications, immediate attention should be paid to preventive procedures, which include the following measures:

compliance with hygiene procedures;
regular visits to the dental office;
avoidance of too hot food and drink;
quitting smoking and alcoholic beverages.

If the disease occurs due to an infection, you must first eliminate the source of infection, which from the point of view of modern medicine is not difficult even at home. Such treatment involves, first of all, systematic care. It is very important to properly care for your teeth and the mouth area as a whole, using a special therapeutic paste. However, there are also rare, particularly severe cases that require hospitalization followed by surgery.

Surgery is a last resort

We can talk about surgical intervention in the case of a severe, untreatable course of the disease, complicated by the development of a purulent process. And also if the treatment does not bring positive results, the pain continues to increase, and the patient has a high temperature for a long time. In addition, the indication for removal of the gland may be the discovery of multiple stones in it. If there is only one pebble, removing the excretory duct while preserving the gland itself will be a sufficient measure.

It's no secret that it is much more profitable to prevent a disease than to treat it. That is why the most important thing is to follow preventive measures, which for inflammation of the tongue are quite simple and include proper oral care and timely treatment of various diseases that can lead to unpleasant consequences.