Dribble, drool, slobber, spit. Did you say eww? In reality, your saliva is the lesser of gross bodily fluids. Why? Because it’s comprised of about 99% water. Saliva also contains a small mixture of antibodies, electrolytes, enzymes, and mucous.
Check out these fun facts about saliva.
Detect and diagnose: A swab of saliva is worth a thousand words, and is also a quick, painless alternative to a blood sample. Saliva contains a plethora of biological markers that can lead to the early diagnosis of certain cancers and systemic diseases. Collecting DNA from saliva is a key resource for criminal investigation, paternity/maternity testing, and tracing your ancestry. Your saliva can also get you a DUI thanks to the blood alcohol test, and it can even allow scientists to predict your age!
Savor and swallow food: Saliva helps kickstart the the digestion process, which begins in your mouth. Saliva moistens the food by forming a “bolus” that can be swallowed. Saliva’s enzyme, amylase, breaks down starch in the food you eat. You know the feeling you get when take your first bite of that delicious stuffed-crust pizza? You can thank your saliva for that because without it food would have no taste. Saliva is crucial for taste because it transports food molecules to the appropriate taste bud receptors.
Some spit stats: Word on the street (or the internet) is that you could produce enough saliva to fill two swimming pools in your lifetime. Break it down further, and that’s about two bathtubs full of saliva per year. Talk about a spit bath! On the daily, you produce about a quart of spit. Keep in mind that the amount of saliva can vary from person to person. Also, saliva has an agenda of its own. Ever notice that your mouth is dry when you wake up in the morning? Well, saliva production decreases when you sleep as well as when are nervous or frightened. Have you ever been scared “spitless”? Other factors such as breathing through the mouth, dehydration, medical conditions, medications, smoking, and strenuous exercise can decrease the amount of saliva.
Wet your whistle: The mouth is almost always moist, unless you suffer from an extreme case of dry mouth, in which case, you should consult with your dentist. Saliva is on tap 24/7, and it plays a key role in oral hygiene. It has antimicrobial components that protect teeth from harmful bacteria and help to quickly heal trauma to the mouth. Saliva also cleanses the mouth by washing away food debris, neutralizes the mouth’s acids, and remineralizes tooth enamel. Since chewing increases saliva, it’s not a bad idea to chew sugar-free gum to keep the juices flowing. In addition to oral hygiene benefits, saliva also helps with speech by allowing the tongue and lips to move around freely to form words.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your saliva, such as dry mouth, call us at 954-344-4488, or complete an online appointment request to schedule your consultation.