Saliva is one of the main fluids of the body. Salivary glands producing this secretion are assigned to the gastrointestinal tract glands along with the pancreas and the liver. Saliva performs the following functions:
► participating in cleansing the oral cavity from food remnants, dental deposit, and bacteria;
► neutralizing acids and alkali;
► providing the inflow of ions necessary for the maintenance of the structure of enamel hydroxyapatites;
► maintaining the species composition of the oral cavity microflora; forming a protective barrier composed of mucin, iron-containing proteins and WBCs;
► antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties;
► participating in tooth pellicle formation, preventing calcium phosphate precipitation from supersaturated solution of saliva;
► moistening and softening solid food, facilitating bolus formation, and providing for the first stage of hydrolysis of food starch;
► regulating the secretion of digestive juices in the gastrointestinal tract.