Drool happens.

Drool happens. In fact, a person tends to start drooling around 3 months of age. Then it tends to get out of hand when those adorable teeth start to make their way through the gums, but saliva plays a key role in our oral health. The moisture in our mouth becomes such a normal part of life that we tend to forget it’s even there. Well, that’s the hope anyway—having too much or too little will definitely bring it to your attention.

Saliva plays an integral role in our lives. It washes any leftover food particles from your teeth, assists with digestion by softening food, and even helps prevent cavities and infections. Not to mention, our mouths would be pretty uncomfortable without the assistance of spit.

Why Saliva Matters

Did you know that your mouth produces about one to two liters of saliva each day? Though it sounds like an excessive amount, you would certainly miss it if it disappeared. Saliva keeps your mouth comfortable, but it also works to prevent infections in your mouth, keep food particles where they should be, and make it easier for your stomach to digest food. It’s even known for helping keep your teeth strong by moving high levels of fluoride, calcium, and phosphate to the tooth’s surface.

Disease-Fighting Power of Saliva

So how does saliva manage to fight diseases? Saliva acts like your very own guardian, ready and waiting in your mouth to attack anything that dares pass it. It does this with the enzymes and proteins that it contains.

In the same way, saliva helps prevent cavities and infections. This is mainly by helping keep your mouth as clean as it can. This isn’t a replacement for brushing and flossing your teeth, but it definitely makes a difference. It also helps balance the Ph level of your mouth, keeping everything nice and healthy.

In fact, saliva can be a way to diagnose certain medical conditions! It’s an easy way to test for certain conditions because it shares certain properties with the blood.

Strengthens Your Teeth Naturally

Saliva can actually play a role in strengthening your teeth naturally. It contains calcium, fluoride, and phosphate ions that all work to strengthen the enamel. This enamel acts as a shield against tooth decay, so you want it to be as strong as possible. Enamel can’t grow back once it’s gone, but these minerals do an excellent job at protecting and repairing it! Keeping that shield in tip-top shape is imperative to keeping your teeth healthy throughout your life.

Other Benefits of Saliva

Your saliva does more for you than you realize. By keeping your mouth moist, it’ll keep you comfortable. It also aids in speaking, chewing, and swallowing. Without enough saliva, chewing and swallowing can be incredibly difficult. This makes it more difficult for your stomach to properly digest food. Over time, this can create a whole mess of digestive problems.

Saliva is also a pro at neutralizing acids from the foods and drinks you eat, maintaining a healthy pH level. This is more important than you realize. Imagine if you ate a grapefruit and your mouth adopted that acidity. It’s not a pretty picture, is it?

When Saliva is Lacking: Dry Mouth Concerns

So what happens if your mouth is lacking in saliva? This is often a sign of certain health issues, such as diabetes or the autoimmune disease Sjogren’s syndrome. Also, keep in mind that it can be a side effect of various medications. Having a persistent dry mouth increases the risk of cavities and bad breath. Thankfully, there are things that can be done to help your mouth make the appropriate amount of saliva again, so be sure to contact your dentist and get it taken care of before it gets out of hand.

Keeping Your Saliva Flowing

So how do you keep your saliva flowing properly? First, be sure to drink enough water. For some, it’s easiest to do this by carrying around a big water jug. For others, apps help to remind them to take a sip or two. Do your best to stop smoking, and limit your alcohol intake! Keep up with your regular oral hygiene and visits to the dentist, and be sure to talk to your doctor if you think any of your medications are causing dry mouth.

Appreciate your spit!

Drool is a natural part of life; though, if you’re the parent of a teething little one, it can feel like they have far too much. Saliva is part of your mouth’s natural defense system. It helps fight cavities and is the first line of defense against infections of the mouth. It’s a vital part of protecting your oral health!

Don’t forget another important part of caring for your teeth—coming to visit us at Berrien Dental. We’re that extra layer of protection, finding any problem before it has a chance to happen. So if it’s been a while since your last dental cleaning, be sure to hop online and request an appointment.