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I Have Had This Soft Little Bump Underneath The Left
Question: I have had this soft little bump underneath the left side of my tongue for at least a year in a half now. It can be easily pushed down with my tongue and isn’t painful at all and hasn’t grown at all since I’ve noticed it. I have also noticed some slight fullness in my left ear and weird feeling in the back of my left cheek/jaw area as well. Again this has been going on for well over a year but no severe pain at all and I have never noticed any hard lumps at all. I am 19 and I have been in good health and do not smoke or have never been a daily drinker. Thank you
Also it almost feels like salivary glands especially the big one on the cheek feels larger on the left side than the right side
Brief Answer:
Possibly a salivary gland duct stricture
Detailed Answer:
Hello, I'm Dr. Branch, thanks for using Ask a Doctor. With your description of the salivary glands feeling enlarged on the left side, with a swelling in the area of the salivary gland duct, I would suspect some obstruction in the duct. The submandibular gland empties in the mouth just under the tongue, and the submandibular gland is just under your jaw. Usually an obstruction is caused by a stone, but since you don't feel anything hard and it has been going on for so long, I don't think there would be a stone there, but perhaps the ducts has been injured, possibly by a stone in the past, and now some saliva is getting backed up and causing swelling at the opening in the mouth, and causing the salivary gland to swell. The way to confirm this would probably require a referral to an ENT, who can use a scope to look in the duct.
If it is not really bothering you, there is nothing that would make me think that you need to do something about this urgently. As long as the salivary gland is not growing larger and you don't have any pain or any other symptoms, there shouldn't be anything serious to worry about. But if this is bothering you, then an examination by your doctor and referral to ENT might be appropriate.
I hope that helps, please let me know if you have any questions about any of that, and I would be glad to discuss it further with you.
Possibly a salivary gland duct stricture
Detailed Answer:
Hello, I'm Dr. Branch, thanks for using Ask a Doctor. With your description of the salivary glands feeling enlarged on the left side, with a swelling in the area of the salivary gland duct, I would suspect some obstruction in the duct. The submandibular gland empties in the mouth just under the tongue, and the submandibular gland is just under your jaw. Usually an obstruction is caused by a stone, but since you don't feel anything hard and it has been going on for so long, I don't think there would be a stone there, but perhaps the ducts has been injured, possibly by a stone in the past, and now some saliva is getting backed up and causing swelling at the opening in the mouth, and causing the salivary gland to swell. The way to confirm this would probably require a referral to an ENT, who can use a scope to look in the duct.
If it is not really bothering you, there is nothing that would make me think that you need to do something about this urgently. As long as the salivary gland is not growing larger and you don't have any pain or any other symptoms, there shouldn't be anything serious to worry about. But if this is bothering you, then an examination by your doctor and referral to ENT might be appropriate.
I hope that helps, please let me know if you have any questions about any of that, and I would be glad to discuss it further with you.
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Remy Koshy
Answered by
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