What Does Saliva Actually Do for Your Teeth?

Saliva probably isn’t something you spend much time thinking about.

It’s simply there, doing its thing in the background while you eat, talk and go about your day. But saliva actually has several important jobs, and your teeth would certainly notice if there wasn’t enough of it.

From helping protect against tooth decay to making it easier to eat and swallow, here’s why saliva deserves a little more credit.

It’s Constantly Washing Your Mouth

Every time you eat, small particles of food can be left behind on and around your teeth.

Saliva helps wash some of this debris away. It doesn’t replace brushing and cleaning between your teeth, but it’s part of your mouth’s natural cleaning process throughout the day.

This is also one reason a dry mouth can feel so uncomfortable. Without the usual flow of saliva, your mouth can quickly start to feel sticky or unpleasant.

It Helps Deal With Acids

Your teeth are regularly exposed to acids.

Some come directly from acidic foods and drinks, while others are produced when bacteria in your mouth break down sugars.

Saliva helps neutralise acids in the mouth and plays an important role in maintaining an environment that helps protect your teeth.

It’s one of the reasons constantly sipping or snacking on sugary or acidic things throughout the day can be problematic. Your mouth benefits from having time between exposures.

Saliva Helps Protect Your Enamel

Tooth enamel is incredibly strong, but it isn’t indestructible.

Saliva contains minerals, including calcium and phosphate, that can help with the natural remineralisation process occurring at the surface of your teeth.

Fluoride also plays an important role in strengthening enamel, which is one reason brushing with fluoride toothpaste is recommended.

Your mouth has its own defence systems working away every day, and saliva is a big part of that process.

It Helps You Eat

Imagine trying to eat a dry cracker with absolutely no moisture in your mouth.

Saliva moistens food as you chew and helps form it into a consistency that’s easier to swallow. It also begins the digestive process by helping break down certain components of food.

You generally don’t notice any of this happening because your body takes care of it automatically.

Until your mouth is dry, that is.

Then suddenly you realise just how useful saliva actually is.

It Helps You Taste Your Food

Your taste buds need substances from food to dissolve before they can properly interact with taste receptors.

Saliva helps make that happen.

So while your tongue usually gets all the credit for tasting your morning coffee or your favourite dinner, saliva is quietly helping behind the scenes.

So, Why Does Your Mouth Sometimes Feel Dry?

Everyone experiences a dry mouth occasionally.

You might wake up feeling dry after sleeping with your mouth open, realise you haven’t drunk enough water during a busy day or notice your mouth feels dry when you’re nervous.

But for some people, dry mouth is persistent.

There are many possible reasons for this, including certain medications and medical conditions. That’s why ongoing dry mouth is worth mentioning rather than simply assuming you need to drink more water.

Why Does Dry Mouth Matter for Your Teeth?

When there isn’t enough saliva, you lose some of the natural protection it provides.

Food may not be washed away as effectively, acids may remain in the mouth for longer and the risk of tooth decay can increase. A dry mouth may also contribute to bad breath and make eating, swallowing or speaking less comfortable.

If your mouth regularly feels unusually dry, particularly if it’s a new change, it’s something we want to know about.

Can You Encourage Saliva Production?

Staying well hydrated is a good starting point.

Chewing sugar-free gum can also stimulate saliva production for some people. If you’re experiencing persistent dry mouth, however, the best approach will depend on what’s causing it.

It’s also important not to stop or change prescribed medications because you think they might be contributing to dry mouth without first speaking with the healthcare professional who prescribed them.

Your Mouth Has Its Own Defence System

Saliva might not be the most glamorous part of oral health, but it’s doing far more for your teeth than you probably realise.

If you’ve noticed your mouth feels persistently dry, sticky or uncomfortable, or you’re suddenly drinking water constantly just to keep your mouth comfortable, come and see us.

We can take a look at your teeth and gums, talk about what you’ve been experiencing and discuss what may help.

Get in touch with our team to book an appointment.