How Do I Fix a Blocked Salivary Duct?

How Do I Fix a Blocked Salivary Duct?
Author: Espire Dental Posted: July 13th, 2022 Category:

Saliva helps you enjoy your favorite foods. But when there is a blockage in the salivary gland, eating can become painful. Let’s get that fixed! 

You probably don’t think too much about saliva, but it’s what helps you chew and digest food. Without saliva, you wouldn’t be able to enjoy your favorite meals and refreshments! 

Yet sometimes, you produce less saliva due to a blockage in one of the salivary gland ducts. The blockage leads to pain when swallowing and swelling in the jaw, mouth, and area around the ears. Thankfully, a blocked salivary duct can be fixed with at-home treatments and, if needed, minimally invasive dental procedures.

What causes a blocked salivary duct?

Chewing activates your salivary glands, which send saliva into the mouth through ducts. Stones made of salts occurring naturally within the saliva can obstruct the ducts, making it difficult to release saliva. Stones are the most common cause of a clogged duct.

A blocked salivary gland duct develops most often due to dehydration, medications that cause dry mouth, and gout. When blockages occur in the parotid gland ducts, it causes an inflammatory condition called parotitis. A narrowing of the ducts can also prevent saliva from reaching the mouth. In rarer cases, a mucous clump clogs the duct. 

How can you fix a blocked salivary duct?

Because the stone may block saliva only sporadically, you may feel occasional symptoms. When chewing becomes repeatedly painful, and you notice swelling around the jaw and ears, you should consult your dentist for treatment. 

In addition to a physical exam of your mouth, your doctor can order several imaging tests, including an X-ray, CT scan, or ultrasound. An X-Ray of your gland, known as a sialography, can pick up any stones in the ducts.

For treatment, at-home methods can free the blockage:

  • Massage the gland area to move the stone. You can also use a warm compress.
  • Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
  • Suck on hard candies (such as sugar-free lemon drops), fruit, or ice to increase saliva production.
  • Take medication or rinse with a pain-reducing mouthwash or salt water to reduce discomfort.
  • Stop or adjust medications causing dry mouth, but consult with your doctor first!

If those methods fail to dislodge the stone, your dentist has several alternatives to remove the blockage. Among those options is lithotripsy, a procedure that breaks up the stone with shock waves. Other techniques access the stone through the ducts to pull it out. Surgery to remove the parotid duct is rarely employed and only when the other methods are not successful.

At-home methods usually eliminate the blockage effectively. If the duct remains impacted with trapped saliva, you could develop a bacterial infection known as sialadenitis. Redness, swelling, fever, and pus all indicate such an infection. Antibiotics can clear bacterial infections, and your dentist can drain the duct if an abscess has formed. But with non-surgical methods, you can remove the blockage and savor your favorite foods again.

Is chewing painful? See your dentist.

Schedule an appointment at Espire’s La Mesa location today! Our highly trained dentists can check your mouth and remove any blockage in your salivary gland so you can enjoy eating again! 

Don’t live near our La Mesa, CA office? Find one of our other locations near you.

La Mesa, CA
8555 Fletcher Parkway
Suite 102 
La Mesa, CA 91942