Preclinical Paediatrics · MU Sofia

36. Composition of saliva and gingival crevicular fluid.

Explains what saliva is, which glands produce it and how it serves the mouth, from lubrication and taste to buffering. It then sets out its composition, including electrolytes, enzymes, mucins and immunoglobulins, and the rates of unstimulated and stimulated flow. Gingival crevicular fluid is covered next, with its origin, protective role and changes during inflammation. Factors that alter salivary flow and composition, such as posture, time of day and drugs, are listed, with lists of conditions causing excess or reduced saliva.

Inside: 8 sections · 9 labelled pictures · 12 flashcards · 6 min

Topic 36 of 40 in the MU Sofia syllabus for Preclinical Paediatrics (Dental Medicine, Year 3). The free AceMed note covers it in 8 sections, about 888 words (6 min of reading), with 12 flashcards.

In this note

  1. COMPOSITION OF SALIVA AND GINGIVAL CREVICULAR FLUID
  2. SALIVA
  3. FUNCTIONS OF SALIVA
  4. COMPOSITION OF SALIVA
  5. CELLS IN SALIVA 8M. human cells, 500M. bacterial cells/me
  6. FACTORS WHICH AFFECT SALIVARY COMPOSITION
  7. GINGIVAL CREVICULAR FLUIDS
  8. COMPOSITION OF GINGIVAL FLUIDS

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!

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