Salivary gland infection is also called sialadenitis. This is an infection that occurs when saliva flow is reduced. A bacterial or viral infection that affects the salivary glands or ducts are also the major causes of salivary gland infections.
A person’s saliva has so many health benefits, which include:
- Washing away bacteria and food particles
- Keeping your mouth clean
- Breaking down food
- Aiding in digestion
- Controlling the amount of good and bad bacteria in the mouth
Infection occurs when saliva can’t freely travel through the mouth to wash away food particles and bacteria.
Parotitis happens when one or two of the major salivary glands are infected.
Each individual has three pairs of large (major) salivary glands that are located on each side of the face. The largest salivary glands are called parotid glands; they are located inside each cheek and sit above the jaw in front of your ears.
