The major salivary glands, which are the parotid glands (located on either side of the face in front of the ears) and the submandibular glands (located under the jaw), are responsible for producing saliva for the digestion of food. However, there are also multiple minor salivary glands distributed throughout the mouth that perform the same function.
The main diseases affecting the salivary glands are:
a) Infections.
b) Inflammation.
c) Tumors.
d) Stones
Tumors can be benign or malignant, with most being benign. They usually appear after the age of 40. The most common symptoms are: appearance of a rapidly growing mass, pain, changes in facial movements (similar to the effects of facial paralysis), changes in the skin of the parotid region, and hearing changes. All of these masses are treated with surgery.