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Q: Why is saliva important?
A: Saliva is your mouth's lubricant, a mixture of water, mucous, protein and enzymes. As such, it performs a variety of roles. For one thing, it moistens and begins to break down starch. It also binds chewed food into a ball, or bolus, so you can swallow it.
Saliva also contributes to our sense of taste. That's because taste buds don't react to dry food. Saliva is generated by three pairs of major salivary glands and numerous minor glands in your cheeks and lips. The parotid glands are near the base of the ear. The sublingual glands are under the tongue. The third type is the submandibular, which is under your jawbone. They generally secrete a small but steady amount of saliva. Food-sometimes just thinking about it-will trigger a heavy flow of saliva. That's where the phrase "mouth-watering" comes from.
Saliva also helps prevent tooth decay. It provides the liquid that can help wash out particles of food left behind after eating. Among the minerals that are in saliva are calcium and phosphorous, which help strengthen tooth enamel. Get more information from your dentist about saliva and about the other factors that contributes to keeping your mouth healthy and functioning properly.
August 24, 2009
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