Salivary gland pain

[Biddy47]

Can anyone give advice on how to treat swollen and painful Carotid/ Salivary glands

[Tessie62]

Hi Biddy47! When I deal with this issue, I massage my gums, as painful as it is. In doing so, it helps unclog the saliva gland. I'll also lay a hot (as hot as I can take) wash cloth on the side of my face with the clogged gland. It helps with the discomfort and slowly releases it back open. I'm sorry you're experiencing this discomfort. I'm all too familiar with it myself. I too have Lupus, Sjogren's and added MCTD.

I hope you find comfort soon.

[milkwoman]

I sympathize with you as my parotid salivary glands get blocked as well and it’s so painful (can’t eat when they are blocked!) For me, it seems to occur more often on my right side but I have had instances where both sides are blocked.

I have found that applying a heated compress onto the side of my jaw then gently massaging the area upward and downward along the jawline helps to release the blocked parotid salivary gland. I use a microwaveable cloth bag. It’s called an MGB eye bag and I originally bought it to heat my eyelids when my Meibomian glands get blocked. Works well for both.

[JeanAZ in reply to milkwoman]

Yes it’s called the Perotid Gland. It’s very painful. Also you can suck on Lemon drops. That action helps to break up the crystals in the tubes going from the gland into your mouth. As well as the application of heat to the gland. My doc told me years ago these two things to do. He said “Unfortunately there isn’t any thing else you can do”.