Saliva is a fluid that we produce every day, but we rarely pay attention to it.
However, It is more than just spit.
It has many important functions and properties that affect our oral health, digestion, and even our mood.
What are the three primary sets of salivary glands?
There are three main pairs of salivary glands, and these include:
- Sublingual glands: Situated beneath either side of the tongue, under the floor of the mouth.
- Submandibular glands: Located beneath the jaw, the submandibular salivary glands consist of two parts—the superficial lobe and the deep lobe. Similar to the sublingual glands, It’s from the submandibular glands enters the mouth from under the tongue.
- Parotid glands: Positioned just in front of the ears, the parotid glands also have two parts—the superficial and deep components. It is produced by the parotid glands enters the mouth through small ducts near the upper molars.
Which salivary gland holds the title of the largest?
The parotid glands, found just in front of the ears, claim the distinction of being the largest salivary glands in humans.
Function
What role do salivary glands play?
The primary function of salivary glands is the production of saliva, a crucial substance for maintaining both oral and overall health.
It’s serves various essential purposes, including:
- Keeping the mouth and throat lubricated and comfortable.
- Moistening food to facilitate easier swallowing.
- Containing an enzyme called amylase, which aids in breaking down starches in food during digestion.
- Contributing to oral hygiene by keeping the mouth clean.
- Helping to reduce the risk of cavities and gum disease.
- Maintaining the pH balance in the mouth.
In this blog post, we will explore six facts about the salivary glands and saliva that you may not know.
1. You have six salivary glands.
The salivary glands are exocrine glands that secrete saliva into the mouth.
There are three pairs of major salivary glands: the parotid, the submandibular, and the sublingual glands.
The parotid glands are located in front of the ears, the submandibular glands are under the jaw, and the sublingual glands are under the tongue.
These glands produce most of the saliva that we use for chewing, swallowing, and tasting food.
In addition to the major salivary glands, there are hundreds of minor salivary glands scattered throughout the oral cavity.
These glands are mainly mucous glands that produce a thick and sticky saliva that lubricates and protects the mucous membranes of the mouth.
2. Saliva is mostly water.
It’s composed of about 99.5% water and 0.5% other substances, such as electrolytes, enzymes, mucus, antibodies, and hormones.
The composition and amount of saliva vary depending on the type of gland, the time of day, the type and intensity of stimulation, and the individual’s health and hydration status.
The average person produces about 1.5 liters of saliva per day, which is enough to fill a large soda bottle.
However, some factors can reduce saliva production, such as stress, aging, medication, radiation, and certain diseases.
This can lead to a condition called xerostomia, or dry mouth, which can cause problems such as bad breath, tooth decay, gum disease, difficulty swallowing, and altered taste.
3. It helps you taste food.
One of the main functions of saliva is to moisten and dissolve food particles so that they can be detected by the taste buds on the tongue.
The taste buds are specialized sensory cells that can recognize five basic tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami (savory).
It also contains an enzyme called amylase, which breaks down starches into sugars, enhancing the perception of sweetness.
It also influences the flavor of food by interacting with the volatile compounds that give food its aroma.
These compounds are released from the food as we chew and mix with the saliva in the mouth.
Some of them are absorbed by the saliva and transported to the olfactory receptors in the nose, while others are exhaled through the mouth and nose.
This is why we can smell what we eat and why food tastes different when we have a cold or a nasal congestion.
4. It protects your teeth and gums.
It plays a vital role in maintaining oral hygiene and preventing dental caries (cavities).
It washes away food debris and bacteria from the teeth and gums, reducing the risk of plaque formation and infection.
It also contains minerals, such as calcium and phosphate, that help remineralize the enamel of the teeth and prevent demineralization by acidic foods and drinks.
It also contains bicarbonate, which acts as a buffer and neutralizes the pH of the mouth, preventing acid erosion of the teeth.
It also contains antimicrobial agents, such as lysozyme, lactoferrin, and immunoglobulin A, that kill or inhibit the growth of harmful microorganisms in the mouth.
It also stimulates the production of nitric oxide, which is a vasodilator and anti-inflammatory molecule that improves blood flow and oxygen delivery to the oral tissues, enhancing wound healing and tissue repair.
5. Saliva affects your mood and stress level.
It’s not only a reflection of your physical health, but also of your psychological state.
Saliva contains various hormones, such as cortisol, adrenaline, and serotonin, that are involved in the regulation of mood, stress, and emotion.
Cortisol is a hormone that is released in response to stress and helps the body cope with challenging situations.
However, chronic or excessive stress can lead to elevated cortisol levels, which can have negative effects on the immune system, metabolism, memory, and mood.
Adrenaline is another hormone that is released during stress and prepares the body for fight or flight.
Adrenaline increases heart rate, blood pressure, and blood glucose, but also reduces saliva production, causing dry mouth.
Serotonin is a hormone that is associated with happiness and well-being.
Serotonin regulates mood, appetite, sleep, and pain perception.
Low serotonin levels can lead to depression, anxiety, and insomnia.
It can be used as a biomarker to measure the levels of these hormones and assess the psychological state of a person.
For example, saliva cortisol can be used to diagnose and monitor stress-related disorders, such as chronic fatigue syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder, and burnout.
Saliva serotonin can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of antidepressant drugs and therapies.
6. It can reveal your health status and genetic traits.
It is not only a fluid that lubricates and digests food, but also a source of information that can reveal your health status and genetic traits.
It contains various biomolecules, such as DNA, RNA, proteins, and metabolites, that can be analyzed to diagnose and monitor various diseases and conditions.
Such as diabetes, cancer, HIV, hepatitis, and hormonal imbalances.
It can also be used to perform genetic testing and determine your ancestry, paternity, and predisposition to certain diseases and traits.
It’s testing a non-invasive, painless, and convenient method of collecting biological samples for clinical and research purposes.
It’s testing has many advantages over blood testing, such as lower cost, lower risk of infection, easier storage and transportation, and higher compliance and acceptance by patients.
It’s testing also more suitable for children, elderly, and needle-phobic people.
It’s not only a fluid that lubricates and digests food, but also a source of information that can reveal your health status and genetic traits.
It contains various biomolecules, such as DNA, RNA, proteins, and metabolites, that can be analyzed to diagnose and monitor various diseases and conditions, such as diabetes, cancer, HIV, hepatitis, and hormonal imbalances.
It can also be used to perform genetic testing and determine your ancestry, paternity, and predisposition to certain diseases and traits1.
It’s testing a non-invasive, painless, and convenient method of collecting biological samples for clinical and research purposes.
It’s testing many advantages over blood testing, such as lower cost, lower risk of infection, easier storage and transportation, and higher compliance and acceptance by patients.
It’s testing also more suitable for children, elderly, and needle-phobic people.
Here are some more fun facts about saliva that you may not know:
You produce quite a lot in a day.
You can tell that saliva is an important substance because of the sheer amount that you produce in a day.
An average adult will secrete around 1 to 2 liters each day, helping to assist in the different functions that occur in the mouth2.
Your saliva production changes depending on your posture and light. It sounds pretty weird, but it’s true.
Research has found that the amount of it you produce changes depending on how you’re positioned and how much light there is in the room.
You produce the most while you’re standing, and least when you’re lying down.
You also produce more It when you’re in a bright room, and less when you’re in a dark room.
The reason is not exactly clear, but experts suggest that it might have something to do with stimulation caused by the sympathetic nervous system.
It helps you speak.
The moisture in your mouth helps you to move around your tongue so that you can vocalize different sounds and speech patterns.
Without saliva, you would have difficulty pronouncing words and communicating with others.
Conclusion
It is a remarkable fluid that has many roles and benefits for our oral health, digestion, and overall well-being.
It helps us taste and enjoy food, protects our teeth and gums, aids in digestion, affects our mood and stress level, and reveals our health status and genetic traits.
It is also easy to collect and test, making it a valuable tool for diagnosis and research.
It is more than just spit, it is a reflection of our health and identity.
Next time you feel thirsty, drink some water and appreciate the amazing work that your saliva does for you.
FAQs
What are the main types of salivary glands in the human body?
There are three primary types of salivary glands: sublingual glands, submandibular glands, and parotid glands.
What distinguishes the submandibular glands from other salivary glands?
The submandibular glands are located beneath the jaw and consist of a superficial lobe and a deep lobe, producing It that enters the mouth from under the tongue.
Which salivary glands are considered the largest in humans?
The parotid glands, situated just in front of the ears, claim the title of the largest salivary glands in the human body.
What crucial role does saliva play in maintaining oral health?
It serves several important functions, including keeping the mouth and throat lubricated, moistening food for easier swallowing, and containing enzymes like amylase to aid in starch digestion.
How does saliva contribute to reducing the risk of dental issues?
It helps maintain oral hygiene by keeping the mouth clean, thus reducing the risk of cavities and gum disease.
Why is the pH balance in the mouth important, and how does saliva contribute to it?
It plays a role in maintaining the pH balance in the mouth, which is crucial for preventing acidic conditions that can lead to tooth decay and other oral health issues.
