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Head, neck and salivary problems
Salivary Gland Stones
Short answer: A salivary stone can block saliva flow and cause swelling or pain, often around mealtimes.
What is this?
A salivary stone can block saliva flow and cause swelling or pain, often around mealtimes. People often look this up because conversation, sleep, school, work or breathing has become harder. The lists on this page describe patterns. They are not a checklist that proves a cause. A similar complaint can come from more than one place, which is why an examination matters. The clinician may examine the mouth, throat, neck and glands. Depending on findings, imaging, blood tests, endoscopy or sampling may be considered. If you are travelling from elsewhere in Bihar, from Jharkhand, eastern Uttar Pradesh, or from Nepal for a planned visit, confirm the day’s clinic by phone or WhatsApp before you start. Sudden or dangerous symptoms should be handled by a local emergency service, not by a message to the clinic.
This page cannot tell you which medicine to take, what dose to use, or whether an operation is required. It does not replace examination by a qualified clinician. Symptoms alone cannot confirm a diagnosis.
Common symptoms
- Painful swelling near jaw or under tongue that worsens during meals, dry mouth or recurrent swelling.
Possible causes
These are possibilities clinicians consider. Having one of them does not prove it is the cause.
- Mineral deposits can form in a salivary duct; dehydration may contribute but is not the only cause.
Practical care
- Avoid tobacco, gutkha, tobacco-containing paan and areca nut; do not repeatedly irritate a lesion. Record when symptoms began. Do not delay assessment because a lesion is painless.
When to arrange an ENT visit
- Arrange an ENT visit if symptoms persist, recur, worsen or affect hearing, sleep, speech, swallowing or daily activities.
- The clinician will decide whether tests are needed after examination.
Seek urgent care for these signs
- Fever, pus, rapidly increasing swelling or breathing/swallowing difficulty needs urgent assessment.
Call Pal ENT Clinic for these signs. If you cannot reach the clinic, go to a nearby hospital. Do not wait for a WhatsApp reply.
What may happen at the clinic
The clinician may examine the mouth, throat, neck and glands. Depending on findings, imaging, blood tests, endoscopy or sampling may be considered.
Questions worth asking
- What are the likely explanations in my case, and what would make you think otherwise?
- Is a hearing test, endoscopy or scan needed now, or only if the examination suggests it?
- What can I safely do at home, and which warning signs mean I should seek emergency care?
Questions patients ask
Does a persistent lump or ulcer mean cancer?
Not necessarily. Many causes are possible, but persistent or unexplained symptoms should be examined rather than self-diagnosed.
Do I need an antibiotic?
Not automatically. Many ear, nose and throat infections settle without antibiotics. A clinician decides after examining you. This website does not recommend doses.
Can I send reports on WhatsApp?
Send your name and the type of enquiry only. Do not send symptom details, photographs of reports, or medical records on WhatsApp unless the clinic has agreed a secure method. The website does not store this form.
Related reading
Sources
General educational information only; not a diagnosis or personalised treatment plan. A qualified clinician must review this draft before publication.
For a non-emergency in-person assessment, contact Pal ENT Clinic & Research Centre to ask about appointment availability. Do not use WhatsApp for emergency symptoms.