Inflammation of the sublingual salivary gland
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The sublingual glands are located on the jaw-hyoid muscle, under the mucous membrane of the floor of the mouth, on the right and left sides of the tongue. Each gland produces saliva, which enters the oral cavity through the large duct or the small hyoid ducts. Sometimes the salivary glands become inflamed due to the penetration of a viral or bacterial infection. Inflammation is manifested by a violation of taste, an unpleasant taste in the mouth, restriction of mouth opening.
Often symptoms of the disease are dry mouth (xerostomia), fever, pain while chewing food. As a result, inflammation is complicated by reddening of the skin and swelling of the face and neck in the affected area. It is noticed that quite often the majority of inflammatory diseases of the salivary glands pass without therapeutic therapy, but this pathology also often causes complications in the form of an abscess, phlegmon of the floor of the mouth, and secondary infection.
The prognosis with timely treatment is favorable. Today, thanks to vaccinations, people encounter this inflammation of the glands much less often. The therapist or dentist reveals the ailment by visual examination. Inflammatory processes can have an acute and chronic form, they are purulent, since a damaging bacterial infection affects the appearance of blockage of the excretory ducts.
Usually, inflammation of the sublingual gland occurs simultaneously with inflammation of the submandibular salivary gland. Acute purulent inflammation causes stomatitis, foreign bodies. On palpation, infiltration of soft tissues of the submandibular region of a rounded shape and a cord along the excretory duct is determined. The floor of the mouth becomes noticeably asymmetrical, half of the tongue swells. There may be enlarged glands and discharge of pus.
In the case of a bacterial nature of the disease, antifungal, antiviral drugs are prescribed, and in case of an abscess, surgical drainage is performed, or the method of hydro aspiration is used. A mouthwash with warm saline is prescribed. The success of treatment depends on adherence to the doctor's orders. Bed rest and a calm psychological environment are required.
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Along with the use of therapeutic methods, it is important to organize proper nutrition, food should be liquid, balanced. An important role is given to the drinking regime. It is necessary to reduce the symptoms of intoxication as soon as possible, eliminate congestion in the gland, improve lymphatic and blood flow in the affected tissues. At the beginning of treatment, it is required to establish the cause of the inflammation.
To prevent inflammation of the salivary gland, in addition to the rules of personal hygiene, it should be remembered that the condition of the teeth and tonsils and inflammation of the glands are inextricably linked. With the development of viral colds, you need to take on their elimination. The first signs of impaired salivation are a signal of the development of an inflammatory process and a serious reason for contacting a specialist.
The following forms of the disease are distinguished:
- pronounced signs
- late form
- chronic form
- exacerbation of the chronic form of the disease
It is extremely rare, but fistulas can form. In their appearance, the main role belongs to the trauma that can be obtained from a firearm. There are also other causes of damage to the salivary glands, they occur in the postoperative period, after the opening of purulent foci in acute parotitis and as a result of the removal of tumors.
Damage to the excretory ducts and tissue of the sublingual salivary gland is possible during the treatment of a carious tooth cavity due to careless handling of a dental bur. Good oral hygiene is the very first factor in preventing the majority of diseases. Timely removal of food debris prevents the likelihood of tooth and gum destruction by microbes, which, if not eliminated in any way, lead to the formation of bacterial plaque, including the premise of inflammatory diseases of the salivary glands.
Inflammation of the salivary glands of the sublingual zone is a serious pathological process and this cannot be treated irresponsibly, since it can be the beginning of the development of benign, locally destructive and malignant tumors.
In medical practice, there are many cases when a doctor is consulted with a swollen gland. And often with this phenomenon, an incision is made in the hyoid region, a lot of pus comes out. Even a stone sometimes happens.
To avoid this, you need to eliminate the stagnation of saliva, it is recommended to eat sour fruit or lemon. Thus, salivation increases and the gland duct is cleared. And for preventive purposes, it is useful to press on the hyoid gland from the outside under the jaw.
Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist
Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".
