Saliva Explained: Why Does the Mouth Produce It? What Happens If It Is Too Little?

(Photo : Pexels / Karolina Grabowska)

Saliva is a translucent liquid that several salivary glands in the mouth produce. But what role does saliva play in health?

The Role of Saliva

While saliva mostly consists of water, it also consists of vital substances necessary for food digestion and tooth strength. This liquid is important due to how it keeps the mouth comfortable and moist, aids with swallowing, tasting, and chewing, consists of proteins and minerals that prevent tooth decay and protect tooth enamel, prevents bad breath, fights mouth germs, and helps maintain dentures.

Saliva is produced by chewing. When one chews harder, more saliva is produced. Hardly sucking on a cough drop or candy could also aid with saliva production.

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Salivary Glands

The glands responsible for saliva production are known as salivary glands. These glands sit within the cheek, mouth bottom, and close to the front teeth.

There are three major kinds of salivary glands, namely, sublingual, submandibular, and parotid glands. The first one, the sublingual glands, are situated below either tongue side, under the mouth's floor. The second one is situated below the jaw and consists of two different parts: the deep lode and the superficial lobe. The last one, the parotid glands, are in front of the ears. These glands also have a deep and superficial lobe. These parotid glands also make up the largest salivary glands in the human body.

In most cases, the body produces up to two to four pints of saliva in a single day. Saliva production typically peaks during late afternoon and goes down during the night.

When Saliva Is Too Little

However, there are factors that could affect salivary production. In cases where insufficient saliva is produced, the mouth could end up dry. Such a condition is known as xerostomia, or dry mouth.

Dry mouth could lead to swelling and discomfort in the tongue, gums, and other mouth tissues. In such a setting, germs tend to thrive. A dry and germ-filled mouth could lead to foul-smelling bread.

Xerostomia also increases the likelihood of rapidly developing periodontal gum disease and tooth decay. This is due to the supposed role of saliva in cleaning food particles in the teeth, consequently reducing cavity risk.

For unclear reasons, the condition is more prevalent among older adults. Systemic disorders, certain drug use, and poor nutrition are believed to play pivotal roles.

Dry mouth and too little saliva production can be due to certain conditions, such as diabetes or HIV/AIDS, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, blockage in saliva-draining tubes, dehydration, salivary duct structural issues, a fight-or-flight response to stress, or cigarette smoking.

Medicines that are known to affect the flow of saliva and lead to dry mouth include anxiety medicines, antihistamines, certain drugs for blood pressure, appetite suppressants, the majority of antidepressants, analgesics, and diuretics.

To maintain salivary gland health and mouth moisture and comfort, it is recommended to drink a lot of water, suck on candy that is sugar-free, and chew gum that is sugar-free. There are also cases where dentists may recommend a mouth rinse using artificial saliva.