If your mouth feels dry regularly, this means you’re not producing enough saliva. Saliva is an important tool that digests your food to teeth and gums strong and healthy.
If you don’t produce enough saliva, you’ll begin to experience certain conditions that cause difficulty with overall mouth functioning.
Let’s understand more about saliva production
What Is Saliva?
Saliva is a build-up of water, mucus, amylase, and proteins that keeps your mouth moist. When you’ve eaten, the saliva helps to digest any food debris from your meal so your mouth remains clean. Without saliva, food will remain in the mouth, and eventually, it’ll turn into bacteria. When bacteria forms inside the mouth, this will formulate into dental plaque, a sticky substance full of bacteria that coat around your smile.
As dental plaque builds, the bacteria can cling onto the teeth and produce acid, causing an acid attack and enamel erosion. Eventually, a tiny opening, or hole, will form in the center of your teeth, known as a cavity.
How Is Saliva Formed?
Saliva is 98% water which contains enzymes that develop in and around your mouth to digest food. Saliva is produced from your salivary glands, and on average, the body produces a maximum of four pints of saliva a day. The teeth are coated with something called the oral mucosa, comprising mucinous substances and antibacterial components to ensure the oral cavity is lubricated with immune properties that help fight off infection.
Poor production of saliva can introduce a condition known as dry mouth. A dry mouth occurs when the gums and tongue induce swelling. This is due to the salivary glands not producing the right amount of saliva to keep your mouth moist. This is also an indication of dehydration. Your body is starved of fluids.
Saliva Production and Quality
Saliva is produced by both major and minor salivary glands, with the major glands contributing 93% by volume. While the quantity of saliva is significant, its quality—determined by its composition—is equally important. The complex makeup of saliva allows it to perform its various functions effectively, thus maintaining oral health.
Importance of Saliva in Oral Health
Saliva plays a crucial role in maintaining oral health and preventing dental diseases. This complex fluid, primarily composed of 99% water, contains vital electrolytes, proteins, and other organic and inorganic molecules that contribute to its multifaceted functions. Here, we explore the essential roles saliva plays in oral health:
Functions of Saliva in Oral Health
- Cleaning: Saliva continuously washes away food debris, bacteria, and other particles, keeping teeth and gums clean. This natural rinsing action helps prevent the accumulation of harmful substances that can lead to dental issues.
- Moisturizing: Saliva maintains the moisture of oral tissues and mucous membranes, preventing dryness and irritation. This lubrication is crucial for comfort and overall oral health.
- Buffering: The pH of saliva helps neutralize acids in the mouth, which can prevent cavities. This buffering action protects tooth enamel from demineralization caused by acidic foods and drinks.
- Antimicrobial Action: Saliva contains antimicrobial agents that combat bacteria and other pathogens entering the mouth. This defense mechanism helps reduce the risk of infections and oral diseases.
- Remineralization: Saliva provides essential ions such as calcium, fluoride, and phosphate, which are necessary for the remineralization of tooth enamel. This process helps maintain the strength and integrity of teeth, protecting them from decay.
- Digestion: Saliva begins the digestive process by breaking down food particles, making swallowing easier and enhancing the ability to taste. This initial stage of digestion is vital for overall gastrointestinal health.
Impact of Saliva on Dental Caries and Plaque Formation
Saliva’s role in preventing dental caries (tooth decay) and controlling bacterial plaque formation can be summarized under four key aspects:
- Diluting and Eliminating Sugars and Substances: By washing away sugars and other substances, saliva reduces the substrate available for bacterial growth.
- Buffer Capacity: Saliva neutralizes acids, protecting teeth from acid attacks.
- Balancing Demineralization/Remineralization: Saliva helps maintain the balance between these processes, crucial for tooth integrity.
- Antimicrobial Action: Saliva’s antimicrobial properties inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria that contribute to plaque formation and dental caries.
How You Can Stimulate Saliva
High levels of saliva help to minimize dehydration and dry mouth. To continue to produce high levels of saliva, adopt the following in your diet.
- Water: Water is the most important ingredient to keep the mouth moist and to neutralize acids.
- Chew On Gum Or Candy: Chewing sugarless gum and popsicles can help stimulate saliva production. Sugarless also ensures you’re not consuming high volumes of sugar.
- Moist Liquids: Consider eating moist foods such as soup and gravy with your meals.
- Avoid Dry Foods: Stop eating dry foods as part of a meal or a snack as you’ll begin to feel like your mouth is dry.
If you’re experiencing dry mouth or dehydration, begin adding the above tips to your lifestyle and diet and you’ll notice moist your mouth feels. You’ll digest your food better and your oral health will also remain strong and prevent periodontal disease, dental plaque, and bacteria build-up.
Saliva is indispensable for maintaining oral health, influencing everything from tooth protection to infection control. Understanding its diverse functions and importance highlights the need for maintaining optimal salivary flow and composition to ensure comprehensive oral health. If you need further support, Simply Dental Chatswood is here to help! Book your appointment today with our dentists in Chatswood and take the first step towards better oral health by clicking here!
