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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staff
Salivary glands are located in and around your mouth and throat. Salivary glands make saliva, which aids in digestion, helps prevent tooth decay and keeps your mouth moist.
You have three pairs of major salivary glands under and behind your jaw — parotid, sublingual and submandibular. The parotid gland, which is just in front of your ear, is the most common site of salivary gland cancer. Many other tiny salivary glands are in your lips, inside your cheeks and throughout your mouth and throat.
The exact cause of salivary gland cancer isn't known. In some cases, cancer may develop due to DNA damage, as can occur after years of tobacco use or exposure to radiation. Heredity also may play a role in the development of salivary gland cancer.
