What Is Saliva & Why Is It Important? (+ 5 Fun Facts)
We all know about saliva. It’s the stuff that keeps our mouths from feeling like sandpaper and helps us enjoy that delicious slice of pizza. But beyond preventing dehydration and making food taste better, saliva is a fascinating bodily fluid with a surprising number of superpowers.
In this blog post, we’ll dive deep into the world of spit (yes, we’re going there!), exploring what saliva is, why it’s important for our health, and even throwing in some fun facts you might not have known.
What is Saliva?
Saliva is that slippery liquid in your mouth that keeps your tongue moist and your teeth shiny. But have you ever wondered what saliva really is? It’s not just water, that’s for sure. Saliva is actually a complex fluid that plays a vital role in our biology.
Saliva is a clear, watery liquid produced in your mouth by glands called salivary glands. It’s about 99% water, but it also contains a mix of important ingredients such as enzymes, mucus, electrolytes, and antimicrobial agents. These ingredients all play a role in keeping your mouth healthy and aiding digestion.
What is the Importance of Saliva?
Saliva is important for several reasons. For one, it helps us digest food. Saliva contains an enzyme called amylase that breaks down starch into sugars. This is why when you chew bread, it starts to taste sweet after a while. In fact, saliva is essential for tasting your food. As it dissolves food particles, it allows them to interact with taste receptors on your tongue. Without saliva, your food would be pretty bland!
Saliva also helps us speak and swallow. Without enough saliva, our mouths can become dry and our speech can become slurred. Saliva also contains antimicrobial agents that help keep our mouths clean and healthy. Plus, saliva even helps with wound healing in your mouth. It contains growth factors that can accelerate the healing process of minor cuts or irritations.
What Enzyme is in Saliva?
The main enzyme in saliva is amylase, which breaks down carbohydrates. But other enzymes in saliva help break down proteins and fats. For example, lipase breaks down fats, while pepsin breaks down proteins.
Saliva also contains bicarbonate, which helps neutralise the acid in your mouth. This is important because that acid can erode the enamel on our teeth, leading to cavities and tooth decay.
What Is The Phobia of Saliva Called?
It’s not uncommon to be a bit grossed out by spit, but for some people, the apprehension goes into phobia territory. It’s called sialophobia. Now, if you suffer from this condition, you might want to stay away from people who talk with a lot of spit, like those enthusiastic storytellers who always seem to have a little bit of spittle flying out of their mouths.
What Does It Mean When Your Saliva Is Thick and Sticky?
Saliva can even reveal a lot about our health. For example, if you have a dry mouth, it could be a sign of dehydration or a side effect of medication. If your saliva is thick and sticky, it could be a sign of dehydration or an underlying health condition.
Here’s the key: If your thick saliva is accompanied by other symptoms like frequent thirst, dry mouth, difficulty swallowing, or persistent bad breath, it’s best to consult a doctor to determine the cause.
However, in some cases, simple remedies can help thin out your saliva:
- Hydration is important: Make sure you’re drinking plenty of water throughout the day. Aim for eight glasses or more, especially if you’re sweating a lot or in a hot climate.
- Suck on sugar-free candy or chew sugar-free gum: This can stimulate saliva production and help keep your mouth moist.
- Improve oral hygiene: Brushing and flossing regularly removes bacteria that can contribute to mouth dryness.
Fun Facts About Saliva
- Did you know that the average person produces about 1-2 litres of saliva each day? That’s a lot of spit!
- Saliva also has some unique properties. For example, it can help heal wounds in the mouth faster. This is because saliva contains growth factors that promote the growth of new tissue.
- Saliva also contains antibodies that can help fight off infections. This is why when you have a sore throat, your doctor might tell you to gargle with saltwater. The saltwater helps stimulate saliva production, which in turn helps fight off the infection.
- Saliva isn’t always a good thing. When we’re nervous or stressed, we tend to produce more saliva. This can lead to embarrassing situations, like when you’re giving a speech and suddenly start drooling.
- Scientists are studying saliva as a non-invasive way to diagnose diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s. They’re also looking at the possibility of using saliva as a way to deliver medications.
Conclusion
Saliva may not be the most glamorous topic, but as we’ve seen, it’s a fascinating and essential part of our health. From kickstarting digestion to shielding our teeth from decay, saliva is a multitasking marvel constantly working behind the scenes.
The next time you take a sip of water, remember – saliva plays a vital role. And who knows, maybe someday a simple saliva test will be the key to unlocking new medical breakthroughs!
If you’re thinking about getting orthodontic treatment, then contact us for a free consultation today to discuss your orthodontic treatment options!
