The composition, function and role of saliva in maintaining oral health: A review

Abstract

Saliva is certainly one of the most important components in the oral environment and an integral component to oral health. The components of saliva, its functions in maintaining oral health and the main factors that cause alterations in salivary secretion will be reviewed, the importance of saliva in caries development and bacterial plaque formation will be discussed, and its role as an aid to diagnosing certain pathologies will also be discussed here. Saliva aids in maintaining mucosal integrity and in digestion through salivary enzymes. Saliva is essential information of the pellicle, which protects the tooth after eruption. Saliva has several oral benefits including buffering, remineralization, and lubrication. Consider the acid attack on the teeth after a cariogenic episode, saliva aids in mechanically removing food debris and bacteria from the oral cavity and teeth, reduced salivary flow causes ill effects to the oral tissues.