Occasionally, the ducts can get clogged, causing unusual pain and swelling. Crystals can form within the saliva that create a nidus for stone formation, known as sialoliths, similar to those in the urinary tract. Like kidney stones, they usually occur on one side only. They can lead to obstruction of the duct with rapid swelling and pain in the gland and, ultimately, infection. In this post, I discuss blocked salivary glands and what you can do to prevent and treat them.

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