In this blog post from Hammond Aesthetic and General Dentistry in Provo, we are going to review the complexity and importance of your saliva.
You may pause, and think yuk. But there’s nothing to be squeamish about. Saliva is a finely balanced body fluid that not only maintains dental health but also aids in the digestion of your food.
So, without further ado, here are the main components of saliva.
- Water. No surprise here! Your saliva consists of water, for the most part.
- Enzymes. Enzymes are essential biological catalysts that speed chemical reactions. The enzymes in saliva begin the process of digestion.
- Immunoproteins. These are powerful cells that fight invaders, such as bacteria. The immunoproteins in saliva curb the overgrowth of microbes in the mouth. This is critical for avoiding gingivitis and keeping the proper pH balance in the mouth.
- Minerals. Saliva minerals help with maintaining the protective enamel surface of the teeth.
Most people produce enough saliva, but some suffer from dry mouth, which is a lack of saliva. This can be detrimental to your dental health, so be sure to talk to us if you are experiencing this.
At Hammond Aesthetic and General Dentistry in Provo we want the best possible dental health for each of our patients. Services include family dentistry, and specialties like dental implants. Schedule an appointment today!
Contact Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry:
801-374-0070
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
3575 N 100 E Ste 200
Provo, Utah
84604
