Learn About Salivary Duct Stones
Salivary duct stones are deposits of minerals in the ducts that drain the salivary glands. Salivary duct stones are a type of salivary gland disorder.
Sialolithiasis; Salivary calculi
Spit (saliva) is produced by the salivary glands in the mouth. The chemicals in saliva can form a hard crystal that can block the salivary ducts.
When saliva cannot exit a blocked duct, it backs up into the gland. This may cause pain, swelling, or an infection of the gland.
There are three pairs of major salivary glands:
- Parotid glands -- These are the two largest glands. One is located in each cheek over the jaw in front of the ears. Inflammation of one or more of these glands is called parotitis, or parotiditis.
- Submandibular glands -- These two glands are located just under both sides of the jaw and carry saliva up to the floor of mouth under the tongue.
- Sublingual glands -- These two glands are located just under the front area of the floor of the mouth.
Salivary stones most often affect the submandibular glands. They can also affect the parotid glands.
Symptoms include:
- Problems opening the mouth or swallowing
- Dry mouth
- Pain in the face or mouth
- Swelling of the face or neck (can be severe when eating or drinking)
The symptoms occur most often when eating or drinking.
The goal is to remove the stone.
Steps you can take at home include:
- Drinking lots of water
- Using sugar-free lemon drops to increase the amount of saliva
Other ways to remove the stone are:
- Massaging the gland with heat -- The provider or dentist may be able to push the stone out of the duct.
- In some cases, you may need surgery to cut out the stone.
- A newer treatment that uses shock waves to break the stone into small pieces is another option.
- A technique called sialendoscopy, can diagnose and treat stones in the salivary gland duct using very small cameras and instruments.
- If stones become infected or come back often, you may need surgery to remove the salivary gland.
Jefferson University Physicians
Joseph Curry is an Otolaryngologist in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. Curry is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Salivary Duct Stones. His top areas of expertise are Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC), Salivary Duct Stones, Throat Cancer, Laryngectomy, and Gastrostomy.
Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center
Head and neck surgeon David Eisele specializes in surgery for malignant and benign tumors of the head and neck, with a focus on salivary gland neoplasms and disorders of the salivary glands that can be treated surgically. He is an expert in minimally invasive surgical approaches, including sialendoscopy. Salivary gland neoplasms and disorders are also the focus of Dr. Eisele’s research. He has published more than 300 research papers and edited multiple books related to head and neck surgery. Dr. Eisele earned a medical degree from Cornell University Medical College and completed residency training in general surgery and in otolaryngology–head and neck surgery at the University of Washington. From 2012 to 2025, he served as director of the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Eisele is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Salivary Duct Stones. His top areas of expertise are Salivary Duct Stones, Salivary Gland Tumors, Throat Cancer, Laryngectomy, and Gastrostomy.
University Of California San Francisco
Jolie Chang is an Otolaryngologist in San Francisco, California. Dr. Chang is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Salivary Duct Stones. Her top areas of expertise are Sialadenitis, Salivary Duct Stones, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Endoscopy, and Stapedectomy.
Most of the time, salivary duct stones cause only pain or discomfort, but at times become infected.
Contact your provider if you have symptoms of salivary duct stones.
Published Date: September 10, 2023
Published By: Josef Shargorodsky, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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Jackson NM, Mitchell JL, Walvekar RR. Inflammatory disorders of the salivary glands. In: Flint PW, Francis HW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 83.
Orlowski HLP, Miller-Thomas M. Diagnostic imaging and fine-needle aspiration of the salivary glands. In: Flint PW, Francis HW, Haughey BH, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 82.