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Saliva

Did you know that you could potentially produce enough saliva to fill two bathtubs in a given year? With all of that water, you’re likely wondering why your body produces so much saliva. As it happens, saliva actually serves an important role in your body. Without it, you'd have a much more difficult time eating food. You'd likely be prone to more illnesses than you are now, too. Besides just being a bother and pooling on your pillow and cheek when you sleep, saliva is actually incredibly important.

Why Saliva Is Important 
When you think about your saliva, you likely notice that it increases when you're hungry. The concept of 'your mouth watering' whenever you're hungry isn't as metaphorical as it may be used in conversation. Saliva is made mostly of water, in fact 98% of it is made of water. The rest is filled with enzymes, proteins, mucus, electrolytes, and antibacterial molecules. When you eat, saliva is produced in large quantities in order to help you digest your food. 

You might even say that the digestion process doesn't even begin with your stomach. It begins with your mouth. Food is moistened and dissolved because of the saliva which makes it a lot easier to swallow. There are three main salivary glands in your mouth. They exist in your cheek, under your tongue, and near your jawbone. When you eat or even think about eating, these glands produce saliva to fill your mouth in preparation for breaking it down. 

However, saliva does more than just break down your food. It also plays a key role in your oral health. As mentioned before, it carries certain enzymes and antibacterial components within it. This is to fight off bacteria, viruses, and other infectious germs that enter your mouth on a regular basis. 

Saliva is also used to prevent tooth decay and staves off gum disease. This is because as you eat, the enamel of your tooth is damaged. Saliva works to restore the enamel in a process known as remineralization. This helps your teeth remain strong and prevents the development of cavities which can lead to further poor oral health. 

Another interesting fact about saliva is that food in your mouth actually needs to be broken down by the saliva in order for your taste buds to register its taste. Without it, you'd likely never taste anything. In addition, saliva can heal a wound in your mouth a lot faster than anything else on your body elsewhere

How To Maintain Good Salivary Health 
For those who don't visit a dental centre in Ottawa regularly, your saliva may not be as in good condition as you might realize. In some cases, you may suffer from something known as dry mouth. This is when your salivary glands have a problem in producing saliva. As a result, you're often left with bad breath and poor oral health. Getting a dental check up can help keep your teeth and gums clean, but without functioning salivary glands, your mouth may develop gum disease anyway. 

Gum disease can lead to tooth loss. Much like a set of dominos, once you lose one tooth, the rest are quick to follow because they rely on the structure of the tooth next to them to keep them in place. Without that force, the teeth become weak. Before you know it, you may be missing several teeth. This can make eating and speaking difficult. One method to fix this problem is dental implants. 

For saliva, however, you need to practice good habits. With a dry mouth, you should make sure that you're drinking water regularly to keep your mouth moist. You can also include food into your diet that promotes saliva production. These foods are typically in the citrus family such as oranges and lemons. 

In the event that you have a stone in your salivary gland, you should visit the Upper Hunt Club Dental Centre in Ottawa to have the stone removed, so your glands can produce saliva again. Besides that, just ensure that you brush regularly and stay away from acidic foods and beverages that can cause further harm to your enamel. 

Saliva is a very important component in keeping your oral health in good condition. To learn more about your personal oral health, visit the Upper Hunt Club Dental Centre in South Ottawa. Contact us today to book an appointment!

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