Saliva is the fluid organic own mouth. It is composed mostly of water (99%) and its role is essential lubricant, since it enables the full maintenance of the mucous membranes (these would deteriorate if they were dry) to a proper articulation of words.

The saliva is produced in the salivary glands. The daily production in humans is 0.5-1.5 liters, but it depends on factors such as intake of water or stimulation according to the diet. Throughout the day there is also variation in the amount of secretion of saliva: This is minimal at night. Some medicines can decrease saliva flow.

There are two types of salivary glands: The major salivary glands and minor salivary glands. Minor salivary glands are small and very numerous, are spread by the oral mucosa. Each has its exit through salivary secretion. Precisely because of its size and number can not be defined anatomically. The major salivary glands, well-defined anatomical entities, are the parotid glands, submandibular glands (or submaxillary), and sublingual glands. The three pairs are glands, namely that there is one in each half of the body: So there are six major salivary glands in the body, three rights and three lefts.

The parotid glands are more voluminous. We could place them below and in front (toward the cheeks) from the ears. His exit is through the area at the cheeks, at the height of the upper molars. These glands are popularly known because their viral disease known as mumps (viral infection), or mumps.

Submandibular glands submaxillary or plum-shaped and are elongated on the sides of the chaps, almost glued to the jaw by his insides, in the area in which the jaw makes an angle.

Sublingual glands are found below the tongue, in the thick of what is known as the floor of the mouth. Both the sublingual gland as the submandibular have ducts that drain outlet just below the previous area of the tongue, in front of the floor of the mouth.

Saliva has a number of functions of vital importance in maintaining oral environment, such as:

The saliva contains a number of substances (enzymes) that begins in the mouth and the digestive process. When liquid solvent is also a function of that solids eat. Aid in the formation of a food bolus.

From lubrication and drag (for example, catering or cuttings of lingual mucosa scaly).

Antimicrobial: Well, in the saliva are also found substances defense against germs, from the immune system.

When ingest food, the mouth tends to be more acidic (especially if what we have taken are sugars), but the saliva acts as half of neutralizing these acids. In this way the oral tissues, including the tooth enamel, are not chemically attacked by acids. When the tooth suffers loses mineral acid attack, were demineralised, ie, are dissolved in acid part of the minerals it has.

The pH is a way to assess the acidity of a fluid or an environment. When dominated Acids in the mouth, it is said that the pH is acidic and when the situation is contrary (there are very few acids, less than usual) that the pH is basic or alkaline. A state of equilibrium to the mouth gets around when the pH is neutral, and say that the low pH when acidified, which rises when or alkaline.

One of the components of saliva are minerals that are in the secretion from the glands, but saliva can be enriched to that effect by diet, pasta dental or mouthwash with fluoride rinses with us, or demineralization of teeth by acid attack. When the pH is not acidic (there are few acids in the middle), the minerals transported by saliva can be deposited on the teeth, especially on those who had deficits of minerals for having suffered acid attack. This process is called remineralization, and as a "cure" for teeth that had been attacked by acidic.

Saliva promotes blood clotting occurs when a wound in the mouth. It also serves to regulate the amount of body water, because if there is a lot of water in the body produces more saliva and the absence of water is secreted less saliva. Another function performed is the excretion of substances, helping systems such as the sweating, urination or pulmonary excretion: For example, many drugs, once the agency has taken advantage of, are excreted by the salivary secretion.

In terms of the components of saliva, as we said the water was clear majority, but there were some noteworthy components. We have already referred to the mineral components that carries the saliva. Also on the digestive enzymes, such as the ptialina or lipases. There are also defensive proteins such as lysozyme, lactoferrin, immunoglobulins or peroxydases. Other proteins in saliva give a slight degree of viscosity, are the mucin. A group of proteins involved in the work of neutralization of acids and remineralization, are protein-rich acid proline, the histatinas and cistatinas. There is also a small percentage of fats and carbohydrates in the salivary composition.

Other, related to the balance of bodily functions:

Remineralizing:

Neutralizing acid:

Mechanics:

Digestive: