Importance of Saliva in Oral Health

Saliva has a critical responsibility in maintaining your oral health. Saliva has other aspects other than being a liquid in the mouth. It consist of water, mucus, mineral, enzymes and proteins which play an essential role in your oral health.

Many people assume saliva is used for only lubricating the mouth. Here are the essential responsibilities of saliva as part of your immune system.

Providing protection to the teeth and the gum
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Saliva contains proteins, called immunoproteins, and some minerals that help in fighting bacteria in the mouth. This help in avoiding any infection of the gum or decay of teeth. It also gives a fresh smell to the mouth that doesn’t entertain bacteria in the mouth.
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Keeping dentures in place

Aging comes with a lot of challenges. As a solution to replace the lost teeth, people use artificial teeth. Another important role of saliva is that it helps in keeping artificial teeth together and in the right place in the mouth. Artificial teeth can be a home to germs and bacteria thus saliva is important in fighting such bacteria and germs.

Help in lubrication

Saliva enables the mouth and tongue move with ease. Saliva is necessary for keeping your mouth lubricated allowing you to eat and talk.

Keeping the mouth fresh

Saliva is necessary for washing away any food particles that may be left in the mouth. By so doing, it keeps the mouth clean. The process of washing away food particles maintains the right mouth pH.

Dealing with dry mouth

Not having enough saliva in the mouth can result in a condition known as xerostomia. Saliva helps in fighting xerostomia. Xerostomia is very common in older people since they have a smaller amount of saliva than younger people.

Swallowing problems or a feeling of a swollen tongue are some of the symptoms of xerostomia. Dry mouth brings bacteria and germs to your mouth. It can raise the possibility of having teeth and gum infections. Usually dry mouth is brought by age, but smoking, medication and lack of enough water can also cause dry mouth.

Some remedies to this condition include drinking a lot of water regularly and chewing sugar-free gums. Xerostomia is a serious infection and you should see your dentist if you start noticing some of its symptoms.

Saliva plays critical roles as part of your immune system. It is important to ensure you have enough saliva in the mouth. Dryness in the mouth can lead to health problems. A regular check-up will help you in preventing bacterial infection in the mouth. There is a good number of dentists you can seek professionals treatment from. However, it is important to choose a professional dentist to avoid making the case worse.