What can cause parotied gland enlargement?

Answer 1

Acute salivary gland infections rarely affect the minor salivary glands or sublingual glands. The acute conditions more typically involve the parotid and submandibular glands. During an acute inflammatory process, there is swelling of the affected gland, overlying pain, gland tenderness, fever, and on occasion difficulty opening the mouth. Often the pain is intensified with eating in that food ingestion stimulates saliva flow, which will typically cause the gland to swell and thus exacerbate the pre-existing symptoms. Acute inflammatory processes largely fall into bacterial, viral, and autoimmune states. In chronic gland disorder, the symptoms are similar, although much less intense. There is usually swelling of the affected gland with a less intense discomfort and less overlying tenderness. The gland may fluctuate in size and discomfort with eating but usually not to the degree seen with acute infectious causes. It's best to stay away from spicy to acidic foods such as pasta sauces, Mexican foods, Orange Juice, Oranges, limes, lemons, etc.

Answer 2

Salivary stones can cause the parotid gland to become enlarged. These stones can cause pain to occur when eating certain foods and should be removed.