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Saliva on a baby's lips. Saliva (commonly referred to as spit or drool) is an extracellular fluid produced and secreted by salivary glands in the mouth.In humans, saliva is around 99% water, plus electrolytes, mucus, white blood cells, epithelial cells (from which DNA can be extracted), enzymes (such as lipase and amylase), and antimicrobial agents (such as secretory IgA, and lysozymes).
Saliva, a liquid secreted by the salivary glands, contains salivary amylase, an enzyme which starts the digestion of starch in the food. [1] The saliva also contains mucus, which lubricates the food; the electrolyte hydrogencarbonate (HCO − 3), which provides the ideal conditions of pH for amylase to work; and other electrolytes (Na +, K ...
[17] [18] The normal pH range of saliva is between 6 and 7 and plaque biofilm is known to flourish in a pH between 6.7 and 8.3. [ 19 ] [ 20 ] This indicates that the natural environment of the mouth provided by saliva is ideal for the growth of bacteria in the dental plaque.
Digestion: Saliva contains amylase, which hydrolyses starch into glucose, maltose, and dextrin. As a result, saliva allows some digestion to occur before the food reaches the stomach. [30] Taste: [31] Saliva acts as a solvent in which solid particles can dissolve and enter the taste buds through oral mucosa located on the tongue. These taste ...
The presence of fluoride in saliva and plaque fluid interacts with remineralization process in many ways and thus exerts a topical or surface effect. A person living in an area with fluoridated water may experience rises of fluoride concentration in saliva to about 0.04 mg/L several times during a day. [14]
Studies show that fruit juices are the most resistant to saliva's buffering effect, followed by, in order: fruit-based carbonated drinks and flavoured mineral waters, non-fruit-based carbonated drinks, sparkling mineral waters; mineral water being the least resistant. Because of this, fruit juices in particular may prolong the drop in pH levels ...
The pH range is commonly given as zero to 14, but a pH value can be less than 0 for very concentrated strong acids or greater than 14 for very concentrated strong bases. [2] The pH scale is traceable to a set of standard solutions whose pH is established by international agreement. [3]
For example, it creates a physical disturbance to microbes through a washing action. Increase in saliva flow via stimulation (i.e. chewing gum) has been shown to diminish cariogenic plaque formation. [12] Saliva is also largely responsible for environmental pH, water content, nutrients, and host-produced immune cells and antimicrobials.