Hundreds of glands in our mouth produce enough saliva to fill two medium-size bathtubs a year.
That’s a lot of saliva. Which is good. Saliva is our body’s way of rinsing our teeth of sugars and bacteria. Besides protecting our teeth and gums, it lubricates the mouth and regulates its acid balance.
Saliva contains enzymes that begin the digestive process. It dissolves food molecules so we can taste it and lubricates the food we chew so we can swallow it.
Production of saliva varies from person to person, by time of day, and in different situations. For example, we produce less saliva when we’re sleeping or dehydrated. As we age, saliva production tends to diminish.
To maintain the health of your mouth, regular dental checkups are essential. We check your salivary gland function and saliva production. That way we can catch problems early for better management and treatment.
