Symptoms

Symptoms of Salivary Gland Disease

The primary symptom of salivary gland diseases is xerostomia, or dry mouth, which can lead to problems with speaking, eating and swallowing.

Other symptoms of malfunctioning salivary glands can include:

• Thick oral mucus
• Thrush, a yeast infection of the mucus membranes in the mouth and throat
• Mouth sores
• Bad breath
• Erosion of the tooth enamel
• Dental decay
• Impaired taste or sense of smell

In certain conditions, such as Sjögren syndrome, dry eyes, vaginal dryness, dry sinuses, dry skin, fatigue, and joint and muscle pain may accompany dry mouth.