What is on the tip of our tongue?
Cleans, protects, prevents decay. Saliva helps prevent cavity formation and protects against the onset of gum disease. It naturally cleans teeth, washing away food particles and preventing long-term acid attacks on the enamel.
What is saliva?
Saliva is a fluid consisting of water, mucus, proteins, minerals, and an enzyme called amylase, produced by the salivary glands in the mouth, cheeks, tongue, and lips. Saliva is composed mostly of water, which is why proper hydration of the body is essential. Saliva also plays a role in sensory perception, primarily taste (by dissolving food components), and it dissolves and facilitates the absorption of certain medications (nitroglycerin, pyramidon). On the other hand, saliva also serves an excretory function. Many substances are secreted and excreted with it, such as urea, uric acid, alcohol, morphine, iodides, thiocyanates, hormones, and certain heavy metals.
Functions of saliva
Saliva performs a regenerative function, supporting and participating in the healing of wounds of the oral mucosa. Protective mechanisms against pathogens have developed in saliva: constant washing of the mucous membrane, teeth, and gingival pockets (clearing them of food debris, making it difficult for fungi and bacteria to colonize). Saliva participates in the remineralization of enamel, ensuring the stability of apatite crystals due to the content of fluorides, phosphates, and calcium ions.
Diagnostic tool
It also turns out that saliva testing can become an equally valuable tool in the diagnosis of many serious diseases. The chemical composition of saliva changes depending on the current physiological state of the body, which offers a great many diagnostic possibilities, including microbiological ones – the oral cavity is home to a vast number of microorganisms and... viruses. Hence, the simplest and fastest method of collecting diagnostic material for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 is precisely the oral cavity.
Cavity prevention
Food debris left on the teeth can cause serious oral health problems. Sticky, starchy foods such as bread, sugary bars, muesli, and chips expose the teeth to sugar and cause a long-lasting acid attack on the enamel. And as we all well know, after enamel erosion, teeth become much more susceptible to decay.
As we mentioned earlier, saliva helps prevent tooth decay and helps protect against gum disease. It naturally cleanses the teeth, washing away food debris and preventing a long-lasting acid attack on the enamel.
