What is the role of saliva in preventing dental caries?

 Saliva is 98 percent water. Mucus, proteins, minerals, electrolytes, antimicrobial chemicals, and enzymes are all present at small levels. Saliva lubricates the mouth while you chew and swallow, dries out dangerous acids, and moistens the mouth for comfort. Additionally, it disinfects the mouth and stops bad breath, guards against tooth decay and gum disease, preserve enamel and quickens the healing of wounds.

The three pairs of main salivary glands and the numerous small glands that surround the oral cavity are where saliva is produced. The parotid, sublingual, and submandibular salivary glands are the main salivary organs that produce most of the saliva (near the jawbone).

Saliva is carried to your mouth from the glands by tiny tubes known as salivary ducts. Saliva regularly flows into the mouth to maintain moisture in the mouth. When you eat, or even just think about or smell food, your salivary glands become quite active. Then your glands produce a lot of salivae, which you can see in your mouth in greater quantities. Saliva production varies from 2-4 pints per day for the average person.

Role of saliva in preventing dental caries

Saliva has numerous dental health benefits. Saliva removes food particles from the mouth after eating. Because oral bacteria produce enamel-eroding acids when they feed on food particles, which causes dental caries, this aids in preventing caries. When saliva removes the food debris and coats your teeth with a thin layer, your teeth are better protected from harmful microorganisms. Saliva contains minerals like fluoride, calcium, and phosphate that help to rebuild enamel and balance acids in the mouth, while amylase, an enzyme, breaks down carbohydrates.

Saliva is a mixed glandular fluid that helps clean the teeth and oral mucosa. Three glands make up saliva on its own, and they are as follows:-

• Submandibular

• Sublingual

• Parotid

It also contains gingival cervical fluid, hundreds of small glands, and the oral mucosa and submucosa. Only with the help of saliva is it possible to maintain healthy teeth and oral tissues. The dental health of the patient as well as their quality of life would quickly deteriorate if there were a major decline in saliva production. Such a disorder may have results that make eating difficult, such as swallowing issues, poor oral hygiene, rapidly progressing dental caries, a burning feeling in the mouth, difficulty speaking, wearing dentures, oral infections like Candida, and oral mucosal ulcers.

A major issue is a dry mouth, which occurs frequently. As a result of radiotherapy in the head and neck when treating cancer, and notably in the case of older generations when they are prescribed medicines, xerostomia, or dry mouth, is very common among patients with Sjogren's syndrome. The importance of saliva to oral health cannot be overstated, especially in light of the diseases that arise from poor saliva quality or quantity. Because of this, it is essential to spot and treat this problem early on.

Saliva is thought to be the most accessible diagnostic fluid for noninvasive collection and analysis since it allows us to detect systemic, physiological, and pathological caries susceptibility as well as track the presence of hormones, medications, antibodies, bacteria, and ions.

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Conclusion

In the end, saliva cleans and maintains the balance of teeth to shield them from daily exposure. Saliva is essential for preventing dental caries. Antimicrobial enzymes in saliva, such as lysozyme, can kill some bacteria.

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