The salivary function can affect your oral health as well as your overall well-being. It is vital that saliva production be maintained in order to maintain a healthy mouth.
Let’s now discuss the benefits and functions of saliva. Let’s also discuss what to do when your saliva levels are too high.
What is saliva?
Extracellular fluid is made by salivary glands, which are also known as “spit” or saliva. Saliva is rich in enzymes that aid in the digestion of food particles. This is the beginning stage of digestion. You also need to remineralize your teeth with the minerals and other nutrients in your saliva.
What is saliva made of? What is saliva made from?
- Water (95% in saliva)
- Electrolytes: sodium and potassium, calcium, magnesium and bicarbonate, as well as phosphates (and magnesium)
- Mucus
- Enzymes
- Immunoglobulins (IgA, etc.)
- Proteins
- Some of the antibacterial compounds include secretory mucins and lactoferrin.
- Other nitrogenous compounds, such as urea or ammonia
Healthy saliva is slightly acidic, and can range between 6-7 pH. This balance allows saliva to function properly, and protects the mouth against bacteria.
Your saliva’s viscosity is affected by your parasympathetic, sympathetic and sympathetic nervous system activity. The consistency of your saliva changes when you are in “fight, flee or freeze” mode.
Saliva Functions
1. Clearing food debris
Saliva is responsible to removing food particles out of the mouth. Good saliva flow will ensure that food particles do not accumulate in your mouth, or anywhere else in your oral cavity.
2. Tasting
Food molecules with distinct flavor must first be made more soluble/soluble before they can taste food.
Your saliva interacts with the taste buds to reveal the various tastes of foods.
3. Begin the Digestive process
While swallowing and chewing help with digestion, they are not effective without saliva.
Your saliva binds food particles together and forms a “bolus”, a sticky substance which can easily get in your esophagus.
Amylase is an enzyme which breaks down food particles to simpler compounds. This is the first stage in food digestion.
Saliva protects your throat, esophagus and sensitive tissue from any irritation or damage.
Supporting the Oral Microbiome
Your saliva plays a vital role in maintaining a balance of good and harmful microbes within your mouth.
Saliva’s macromolecule proteins, mucins and certain types of oral bacteria destroy some varieties. Mucins can be used for the prevention of bacteria and fungi. To prevent bacteria (or fungi!) from attaching to surfaces inside your mouth, mucins can be used.
These functions are crucial to maintain the oral biome.
Lubricating your Mouth
The saliva is the seromucous coating of saliva. It acts as a barrier to foreign material from entering your mouth and your oral mucosa. These surfaces are lubricated with saliva, which is one the most important functions saliva has.
Saliva is a natural lubricant for your mouth that prevents irritation to your gums, tongue, and cheeks.
Protects against the adverse effects of saliva
- To cause tooth decay and to remove tooth enamel, you can use protolytic and hydrolytic enzymes in plaque.
- Smoking contains carcinogens, as well as other chemicals you breathe in.
- Dry mouth due to mouth breathing
The oral mucosa helps to lubricate the saliva, which makes it possible for you to speak.
Buffering Acids
The saliva is responsible for removing food particles from the teeth that could cause tooth decay (tooth cavities) and feeding bacteria. It also buffers acids, which can cause damage to tooth enamel.
These compounds provide a buffer for your tooth enamel:
- Bicarbonate
- Histidine-rich peptides
- Phosphate
- Urea
- Amphoteric proteins, enzymes
Particularly, bicarbonate is known to spread into dental plaque, neutralizing acid. Ammonia can also be formed from bicarbonate, which is an additional buffer for neutralizing acids.
This buffering function is almost negligible when saliva flows at a low pace. This is also known “unstimulated saliva”.
Low salivary flow rates may cause dry lips (xerostomia), side effects that can increase the likelihood of cavities.
Keep your teeth strong
Saliva supports remineralization which protects teeth against cavities.
Every day your teeth are being remineralized. With a pH of 6-7 and a good salivary flow, saliva can deliver minerals to your enamel without causing acid damage.
Recognizing Systemic Health Problems
The salivary proteins and DNA can identify the presence of or risk for disease.
The following conditions can be predicted by saliva:
- Oral Cancer
- Neck and head cancer
- HIV is one of the viruses.
- Acne
- Allergies
- Fertility difficulties and problems conceiving
- Male-pattern baldness
- Chronic stress
- Two of the most common cardiovascular issues are heart palpitations or high cholesterol.
- Too low body temperature
- disturbances
- Calcium absorption issues
- Premature Aging
How saliva is made in the mouth
Salivary glands produce saliva by secreting and clustering cells known as acini. Acini secrete fluid, which accumulates in ducts and optimizes balance of saliva compounds.
These small ducts can be found in the salivary gills. They then flow into larger, more complex ducts that join to create a single duct. This is where 90% of your spit goes to your mouth.
There are major salivary glands on both sides of your mouth.
- Parotid (high on your cheeks)
- Submandibular gland
- Sublingual gland
There is no external factor that produces a small amount of saliva. Additional saliva is made when
- It is possible to taste and chew food
- You smell certain odors
- You should take medications that affect saliva
How to maintain healthy saliva
For healthy saliva and high-quality saliva production:
- Hydrate. Experts suggest drinking half your body weight daily in ounces. 150-pounders should drink 75 ounces per day. Hydrating foods like celery and watermelon are great choices.
- Treat seasonal and household allergies for nasal breathing to promote and prevent the development of mouth breathing.
- Maintaining good oral hygiene means brushing your teeth flossing , and scraping your lips .
- Take erythritol or xylitol gum. Do not take erythritol. These sugar alcohols can boost your saliva production and support tooth restoration.
- Get creative with your food. Make sure to chew a lot.
- You should apply mouth tape at night. Dry lips are the cause of dry mouth.
- Artificial saliva products such Biotene Gel can be used to provide moisture for people who are unable to produce enough saliva. Sprays may be recommended by your dentist to moisten your mouth for severe cases.
- Do NOT use traditional mouthwash Most mouthwash dry the mouth out and damage the oral microbiome.
- Rinse your teeth with diluted baking powder solution at least once a day. This can create a buffer and keep your mouth healthy.
Is saliva capable of causing tooth decay? According to the theory, saliva loss can lead to tooth decay.
Low saliva flow can be caused by dry lips, Sjogren’s syndrome, sleeping with your mouth shut or taking medication that causes dry lips.
Slow saliva flow at night may lead to cavities and other problems such as sensitive teeth or gum disease.