SALIVA
- Complex fluid that, in health, almost continually bathes exposed parts of the tooth in oral cavity
- Saliva represents immediate environment of the tooth
- Saliva is produces by 3 paired sets of major salivary glands
- Parotid, Submandibular, Sublingual and many minor salivary glands
FUNCTIONS OF SALIVA
- Lubrication of cavity and food
- Facilitating speech
- Helps with taste by acting as a solvent
- Digestive enzymes
- Cleans the mouth
- Immunological properties
- Buffering capacity has a role in maintaining the pH of oral cavity
COMPOSITION OF SALIVA
- 99.5% water and 0.5% consists of electrolytes, mucous, glycoproteins, enzymes and antibacterial compounds such as secretory IgA and Lysozyme
VOLUME: 600-1000mL/day
ELECTROLYTES: Na⁺, K⁺, Cl⁻, HCO₃⁻, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, HPO₄²⁻ and F⁻
PEPTIDES: amylase, proline-rich proteins, mucins, histatin, cystatin, peroxidase, lysozyme, lactoferrin, defensins and cathelicidin-LL37
IMMUNOGLOBULINS: secretory IgA (10 mg/100mL), IgG and IgM
- Inhibition of bacterial colonisation- agglutination
- Binding to specific bacterial antigens involved in adherence
- Affecting specific enzymes for bacterial metabolism
SMALL ORGANIC: Enzymes, cholesterol, ammonia, Ig, Citrate, glucose, A.A.s, Urea, Uric Acid, Proteins and lipid molecules
INORGANIC ELEMENTS: calcium phosphorous, sodium, potassium, magnesium, fluorine, chlorides, bicarbonates, phosphates
OTHER COMPONENTS: epidermal growth factor, insulin, cyclic adenosine monophosphate, binding proteins and serum albumin
ENZYMES: alpha-amylase, lingual lipase, kallikrein, lactoperoxidase, Dextranases, invertases, Proline-rich proteins and minor enzymes including salivary acid phosphatases A+B, N-acetyl-alanine amidase, NAD(P)H dehydrogenase, Superoxide dismutase, transferase, G6P isomerase
MUCOUS: consists of mucopolysaccharides and glycoproteins. Glycoproteins, aka mucins, provides:
- Lubrication
- Low solubility, high viscosity and strong adhesives
- Aids in mastication
- Preserves mucosal integrity
- Protective barrier to excessive wear
- Antibacterial action by selective adhesion
- Barrier against acid penetration
- MG1- high molecular weight, absorbs tightly to the enamel surface, protects from acid
- MG2- low molecular weight, binds to enamel but is easily displaced. Promotes aggregation and clearance of oral bacteria (S.mutans). High in quantity in caries susceptible patients
Important!