Saliva Is More Than Just Wet

Saliva Is More Than Just WetThe inside of your mouth is wet – or at least it should be. There are glands all throughout your cheeks and jaw which produce saliva, a special liquid which only shows up in your mouth. Saliva keeps your tongue and your teeth nice and wet, but it also does a lot more than that.

  • It lubricates your mouth and throat, making it possible to chew and swallow. This is especially true for dry foods.
  • Enzymes in saliva help break down food, making it easier to digest.
  • It protects your mouth from infection and tooth decay by dissolving bacteria and fungi and moving them out of your mouth.

A dry mouth is a vulnerable mouth, and not only does it become hard to chew and swallow, it also makes it easier for diseases to move in and have a field day. Your mouth may run dry from time to time thanks to stress or excitement, but if it persists, then you’ve got a problem on your hands. Dry mouth is not a natural part of the aging process, and if you have a persistent dry mouth it’s most likely thanks to any of a number of medications or else thanks to one of several diseases, including Sjögren’s Syndrome, diabetes, or even HIV/AIDS.

Dry mouth is a serious condition. It can make it hard to chew, swallow, and even speak, and it can lead to any number of potentially dangerous infections. If you’re suffering from a dry mouth, you should contact your dentist or your medicating physician right away to find out what needs to be done.

However, until they fix the problem, or in case they can’t, there are a number of things you should bear in mind to keep your mouth as healthy as possible:

  • Practice oral hygiene as strictly as possible. Your dental health is much more precarious when you don’t produce enough saliva.
  • Stay away from caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco. All three can dry out your mouth, making the situation worse.
  • Sip water and other sugarless drinks regularly, especially during meals.
  • Chew sugarless gum to stimulate your saliva glands.
  • Be wary of salty and spicy foods. Both can cause some real pain in the absence of saliva.

Saliva is an important part of the digestion process, and it’s just as important in maintaining a healthy mouth and strong teeth. While it may be easy to take it for granted, you’ll definitely miss it if it ever disappears.