Your salivary glands produce saliva and empty it into your mouth through slots called ducts.
When these ducts become blocked, they can’t produce enough saliva to moisten your food for proper eating.
Symptoms of a blocked or damaged salivary duct can cause it to become inflamed and swollen.
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While most blocked ducts resolve with home treatment, severe problems may need more complex treatments.
Blocked salivary duct pain takes place if a blockage partially or completely stops saliva flow in a duct.
The stones, called sialoliths, are mostly made of calcium and other minerals.
When the stone remains in the duct, an infection can develop.
Sialadenitisis aninfection of a salivary gland.
Common causes includeStaphylococcus aureus,Streptococcus,Haemophilus influenzae, andanaerobicbacteria.
Sialadenitis is common in elderly people who have salivary gland stones.
It can also occur in infants during the first few weeks of life.
Without treatment, sialadenitis can become a severe infection.
You also have three main salivary glands.
These salivary glands are:
Parotid glandsare the two largest salivary glands.
About 19% of salivary stones form in the parotid glands.
Submandibular glandsare located just under both sides of your jaw.
They carry saliva up to the floor of your mouth under your tongue.
About 80% of salivary stones occur in the submandibular glands.
Only about 1% of salivary stones form in these glands.
However, you’re free to have a blocked salivary duct without any symptoms.
Symptoms may occur as the condition worsens.
The most severe symptoms typically occur when you’re eating since that stimulates the flow of saliva.
Symptoms of salivary gland problems include:
Can You Unblock Salivary Ducts at Home?
Most salivary duct stones free themselves and exit the duct into your mouth within a few weeks.
Never use a sharp object to venture to remove a salivary gland stone at home.
you’ve got the option to risk serious injury and infection.
Contact your healthcare provider for next steps if the salivary duct stone does not clear after a few weeks.
It is performed in the operating room withgeneral anesthesia.
Sialolithotomytreats large salivary duct stones or multiple stones.
This surgery is used to cut out the stone while preserving the function of the affected salivary gland.
It is performed in the operating room under general anesthesia.
Salivary gland removalremoves all or part of the affected salivary gland.
It is performed to remove salivary glandtumors.
The punch in of surgery you have depends on the salivary gland affected.
You will still be able to make saliva with the remaining saliva glands after one is removed.
Your surgeon will advise when you might safely resume normal activities.
Attend all follow-up appointments for the best results.
Look for signs of complications that can occur after salivary gland surgery.
Summary
A blocked salivary duct can occur as a result of several conditions.
When this occurs, the involved duct can become painful and swollen.
Infections require treatment with antibiotics to kill the bacteria.
Salivary duct stones that do not improve may need surgical removal.
In extreme cases, removal of the involved salivary duct is needed.
Some stones may move through the duct with massaging.
Contact your healthcare provider if you notice signs of infection or if the stone remains after a few weeks.
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