What a Wharton’s Duct Is

 Have you ever wondered what saliva is able to move around so easily? Is there a substance that makes this possible? Yes, it’s called the Wharton’s duct.  This is something that’s considered a submandibular duct, and they’re basically saliva channels that are transparent.  Whether you’ve got issues with transporting saliva or are just curious about what goes on in the mouth, this is something that’s fascinating, and here, we’ll give you the full outline of what this is. 

Where They’re Located 

You may wonder where it’s located. 

Basically, look at your underside of your tongue.  You’ll see two openings beneath there, and that’s where saliva is able to enter directly within the mouth, and they’re a huge part of your oral health. 

They are pretty easy to find, as they’re on both the right and the lefthand part of the floor of the mouth. 

This is something that actually manages at least 2/3 of the saliva that you create every single day, to speak and also to chew with. 

The best way to describe it is that it’s like a main water pipe within your mouth. The duct is basically a small tube that’s about 5 centimeters long, and basically carries all of the saliva. Every single submandibular duct will start at the left and right sides, and they’re underneath where your tongue is, and they then empty out directly into a cavity that’s called the sublingual caruncles. 

Why it’s Called this 

Like a lot of the other parts within our body, this is because of the scientist that’s responsible for finding them. 

This wsa done by a man named Thomas Wharton, who was a scientist that was able to study the different bodily glands within. He’s also the first one to pinpoint the structures within his documentation of the neck and the head anatomy. 

He even located the organ within the lower neck area, and he definitely loved to write about these structures. 

Why this Matters 

You need saliva in order to properly lubricate your mouth, so the ducts and organs that are there do play a big role in the movement of your mouth, and it’s absolutely essential. 

The movement of saliva directly from your glands is vital for the everyday activities. Whether you’re speaking, chewing, swallowing, or even washing some of the debris that’s on your teeth, these are all partially done because of saliva. 

There are some issues that can relate to this that mayhappen. The most common is called calcifications of the duct, which creates what’s called a salivary stone. 

If it gets blocked up, that means that the saliva cannot pass through the same way that it normally would. This also prevents it from continuing down the same path to get these essential functions. 

It also can cause pressure and pain in the buildup where the gland that’s blocked is. 

If it doesn’t get treated, this is also then responsible for what’s called xerostomia, or also known commonly as a dry mouth condition. 

It can also lead to bad breath, or halitosis, and it can cause a ton of more serious problems down the line too if you’re not careful. 

Lots of people don’t realize that the saliva that we have is very important, and those with dry mouth are more at a possible risk for dental decay and gum disease too. 

If you notice some issues with the salivary glands, or you have a blocked salivary duct, then you should make sure that you also do talk to your doctor, to get the treatment for these symptoms immediately.