When you think about going to the dentist, what comes to mind is probably dental cleanings in Northborough, MA, or maybe it’s finding out you have a cavity. You may even consider your brushing and flossing habits and how to improve them before your appointment. You probably don’t think about your saliva and how it can affect your mouth. So, is saliva important to maintaining a healthy mouth?
Where Does Saliva Originate?
You have three pairs of salivary glands: the sublingual glands on either side of your tongue, the submandibular glands below your jaw, and the parotid glands in front of your ears. These glands create saliva and put it into your mouth through small openings known as ducts.
What Role Does Saliva Play in Maintaining a Healthy Mouth?
Research has concluded that saliva, or spit, plays a role in your oral health. Think about saliva as your mouth’s bloodstream in that it is vital to maintaining tissue growth in your mouth. If you don’t have enough saliva in your mouth, you can suffer from oral health issues, including infection or tooth decay.
Saliva serves other roles as well, including the following:
- It acts as a way to rinse food and other debris from your teeth and gums.
- It helps break down your food so that you can swallow more easily.
- It gives you a better ability to taste your food.
- It helps prevent cavities in your mouth by containing substances to fight disease.
- It keeps your teeth strong because it contains fluoride and phosphates.
What Else Can Saliva Do?
In addition to helping you keep your mouth healthy, saliva may also be an indicator of other health issues as well, including:
- Breast cancer
- Oral cancer
- Gum disease
- Viral hepatitis
Because saliva and blood share many of the same properties, researchers believe there could be a connection between your saliva and detecting these diseases, so research is ongoing.
Do You Need a Family Dentist in Northborough, MA?
If you would like to speak with a member of our dental team at a Northborough family dental, we would love to talk to you! Call (508) 393-9394 today for more information about general anesthesia in Northborough, MA, or any other dental questions you may have.