A swollen "gland" under the jaw is most likely one of two
things. It could be an actual gland, since you have salivary glands called the
sublinguals located beneath your tongue. But more likely it's a lymph node. which your
have a number of in the neck and jaw area. Lymph nodes are nodules which help filter
body fluids, and they are filled with infection-fighting white blood cells. When a node
is active, it often swells.
The most common causes of
swollen lymph nodes are the common cold and strep throat. If you have a sore or scratchy
throat or a fever, you should probably have it checked out, as antibiotics may be in
order. In any case, if it goes on for more than a day or two, you should definitely see
a doctor.
One thing that will speed healing of swollen
lymph nodes and/or a swollen salivary gland is putting hot compresses on it. Another
home remedy that may help is sipping hot tea; this would be particularly helpful if it
is a salivary gland.
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