Saliva
[2] Saliva also performs a lubricating function, wetting food and permitting the initiation of swallowing, and protecting the oral mucosa from drying out.[4] Produced in salivary glands, human saliva comprises 99.5% water, but also contains many important substances, including electrolytes, mucus, antibacterial compounds and various enzymes.Without normal salivary function the frequency of dental caries, gum disease (gingivitis and periodontitis), and other oral problems increases significantly.[citation needed] Saliva limits the growth of bacterial pathogens and is a major factor in sustaining systemic and oral health through the prevention of tooth decay and the removal of sugars and other food sources for microbes.Saliva contains the enzyme amylase, also called ptyalin, which is capable of breaking down starch into simpler sugars such as maltose and dextrin that can be further broken down in the small intestine.ACh binds to muscarinic receptors, specifically M3, and causes an increased intracellular calcium ion concentration (through the IP3/DAG second messenger system).Lastly, both parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous stimulation can lead to myoepithelium contraction which causes the expulsion of secretions from the secretory acinus into the ducts and eventually to the oral cavity.Norepinephrine binding to α-adrenergic receptors will cause an increase in intracellular calcium levels leading to more fluid vs. protein secretion.[citation needed] In China, expectoration is more socially acceptable (even if officially disapproved of or illegal), and spittoons are still a common appearance in some cultures.Researchers at the University of Florida at Gainesville have discovered a protein called nerve growth factor (NGF) in the saliva of mice.
Saliva (disambiguation)SalviaSalvationextracellular fluidsalivary glandshumanselectrolyteswhite blood cellsepithelial cellsenzymeslipaseamylaseantimicrobiallysozymesdigestionswallowingoral mucosadrying outantibacterialsodiumblood plasmapotassiumcalciummagnesiumchloridebicarbonatephosphateIodinemucopolysaccharidesglycoproteinsthiocyanatehydrogen peroxideimmunoglobulin AEpidermal growth factorcaesiumLingual lipaseKallikreinbradykininvasodilatorLysozymelactoperoxidaseLactoferrinBeta defensinProlineenamelacid phosphatasesN-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidaseNAD(P)H dehydrogenase (quinone)superoxide dismutaseglutathione transferasealdehyde dehydrogenaseglucose-6-phosphate isomerasefoul odorOpiorphinHaptocorrinvitamin B12intrinsic factorpersonsubmandibular glandparotid glanddental cariesgingivitisperiodontitisxerostomiastarchsalivary lipasesense of tastelingual papillaedysgeusiaSjögren syndromebuffercarbonic anhydrasesympathetic nervous systemparasympatheticrespirationmuscarinic receptorskininogenvasodilationcapillary permeabilitySubstance PTachykininNK-1 receptorsmyoepitheliumnorepinephrineα-adrenergic receptorssialagoguesantisialagoguesCarrolltonNew OrleansSpittingSingaporespittoonsCamelsSARS-CoV-2Aerodramusbird's nest soupWound lickingdisinfectantslick their woundsUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleproteinnerve growth factorperoxidaseClassical conditioningPavlov'shungernauseachichakasiriBasic reproduction numberFasting spittleBritish Dental AssociationBibcodeWayback MachineClinical Infectious Diseases