What are the main functions of saliva?
Saliva aids us in our everyday life in many ways, most involuntary, which we never think twice about. • When you put food in your mouth, the saliva allows you to chew and taste it. • Every time you chew, saliva moistens the food so that is able to be swallowed. Without saliva, you would not be able to swallow solid foods. • Saliva lubricates the throat so that when you do swallow food, it doesn’t tear at the lining of your throat. • Saliva helps fight gum disease and tooth decay. How does saliva protect your mouth? In essence, your saliva works to bathe your mouth repeatedly throughout the day. By doing, so it has many positive effects: • Saliva washes away food debris from your mouth. • Because it is alkaline, saliva is able to neutralize the acids in your mouth and help prevent decay. • It helps limit the growth of plaque and the formation of calcium on your teeth. • It keeps dentures stable and in place. And, not only does saliva help to prevent gum disease, but its calcium componen
