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Salivary gland stones

Overview

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Salivary gland stones are white, hard stones that often form below your tongue. They can sometimes cause symptoms, such as a dull pain or swelling.

Things you can do to try to remove salivary gland stones include sucking on a lemon, drinking water and gently massaging around the stone.

A GP may try to remove a salivary gland stone using a thin, blunt instrument. If that’s not possible, you may need to have it removed in hospital.

The cause of salivary gland stones is not clear. They’re not usually linked to other health problems.

Salivary gland stones are small stones that can form in your mouth. They're not usually serious and you may be able to remove them yourself.

Page last reviewed: 14/08/2023
Next review due: 14/08/2026