I have always envied those around me who seem to always have perfect smiles without even trying, because I feel like I was born with "bad teeth." While my teeth are in great shape now, it is only because I take great care to visit the dentist every six months for a check-up and cleaning and maintain good oral hygiene habits at home. While I used to get a lot of cavities, even though I thought I was doing "everything right" to keep them away, I am proud to say that I have been cavity-free for a couple of years now! I put a lot of research into what daily habits can wreak havoc on my teeth, and I thought it would be a shame not to share what has helped me with others who need the advice. I plan to post many oral health tips on my new blog!
Everyone experiences the uncomfortable sensation of a dry mouth from time to time, but a continuously dry mouth should be a cause for concern. Salivary stones are a common cause of chronic dry mouth and should be treated by your dentist before they can cause more serious health issues.
What Are Salivary Stones?
Saliva is produced by the salivary glands inside your mouth and contains a certain amount of dissolved, solid material, such as calcium. Over time, deposits of solid calcium can be left behind inside the salivary glands when they eject saliva. If too much solid calcium accumulates inside the gland, it can form a large, solid mass, commonly referred to as a salivary stone.
What Causes Salivary Stones?
The exact processes that cause salivary stones to form are not yet known. However, decreased saliva production is believed to be a major risk factor that contributes to salivary stone formation.
Prolonged periods of dehydration can cause reduced saliva production. Certain medications, such as antihistamines and antipsychotics, can also reduce the amount of saliva your salivary glands can produce. Salivary glands that are damaged by physical trauma, such as impact damage or lacerations caused by damaged teeth, may also be more vulnerable to salivary stones.
How Do Salivary Stones Causes Dry Mouth?
Small salivary stones that have only just started to form are usually asymptomatic and may be flushed out of the gland and into your mouth without you even realizing it. However, if a salivary stone becomes too large, it can partially or completely block the salivary gland, preventing the saliva from reaching the mouth. This blockage can cause your mouth to become uncomfortably dry.
What Are The Symptoms Of Salivary Stones?
Salivary stones can also cause other symptoms besides dry mouth. As saliva backs up inside the blocked salivary gland, the gland itself can become swollen, inflamed, and painful to the touch. Any pain caused by the stone may be intermittent, and can quickly get worse while you eat or drink. Blocked salivary glands are also more vulnerable to infection, which can cause a white or yellow discharge to form in and around the affected gland.
How Are Salivary Stones Treated?
Salivary stones are a leading cause of chronic dry mouth. However, they can also form if saliva production has already decreased due to other causes, so a salivary stone may simultaneously be a cause and a symptom of dry mouth. If your mouth is uncomfortably dry, you should visit a dentist as soon as possible, even if you show no other symptoms that signify salivary stones.
If you do have a salivary stone that has formed for any reason, your dentist can use a number of treatments to remove the stone and unblock the stricken gland. If the stone is small, your dentist may be able to remove it by simply massaging it out of the gland. They can also insert extremely small probes into the opening of the salivary gland to break up and remove the stone.
If the stone is too large to be removed manually, your dentist may make a small incision in the gland, creating an opening wide enough for the stone to pass. This procedure is performed under local anesthetic and usually does not cause a significant amount of post-operative pain. For more information, contact a dentist.
Share3 February 2021
