Saliva plays several important roles in oral health. It lubricates and protects the mouth, influences oral bacteria, and contains immunoglobulins, white blood cells, and electrolytes. The major salivary glands are the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands, which produce 95% of saliva flow. Saliva secretion is stimulated by eating and helps maintain oral pH balance and tooth mineral content. Saliva also plays a role in dental plaque and calculus formation and the development of caries, as certain bacteria metabolize carbohydrates in saliva to produce acids that demineralize teeth.

2. SALIVA
> lubricates & protects
the structure of the
mouth.
> influences the nature
of oral flora & chemical
composition of teeth.

3. > it plays a major role in the
maintenance of health & in the
production of disease by permitting or
inhibiting the formation of:
- plaque
- calculus
- proliferation of selected
microorganisms.

4. > It contains:
a. Immunoglobulins
b. WBC
c. Lipids
d. Electrolytes
e. Protein

5. Major Salivary Glands:
- produces 95% of the total salivary flow
1. Parotid
2. Submandibular
3. Sublingual

6. 1. Parotid Gland
- biggest, pyramidal in
shape
- literally next or anterior
to the ear
- opens to the
STENSEN’S duct
( opposite the maxillary
2nd molar)
- produces 60-65% of the
total salivary flow

7. 2. Submandibular Gland
- irregular, walnut in shape
- lies posteriorly to the
floor of the mouth or at
the angle of the
mandible
- opens to the
WHARTON’S duct
(summit of the sublingual
papilla at the side of the
frenulum of the tongue)
- produces 20-30% of the
total salivary flow

8. 3. Sublingual Gland
- smallest, almond in shape
- lies immediately beneath
the oral mucosal lining
on the anterior portion
of the floor of the mouth
- opens to the
BARTHOLIN’S duct
(surface of the sublingual
fold on either side of the
tongue)
- produces 2-5% of the total
salivary flow

9. Minor Salivary Glands:
- produces 5% of the total salivary flow
1. Minor sublingual
2. Labial
3. Buccal
4. Glossopalatine
5. Palatine
6. Lingual

10. > Secretion is primarily by
unconditioned reflex associated with
eating & masticatory proprioceptors of
the periodontal ligament & muscles of
mastication.
> 1,000-1,500 ml is the total salivary
fluid produced during a 24-hour
period. (1 cc/min)

11. Factors Affecting Salivary Secretion:
1. Pharmacologic agents
2. Psychological
3. Size of gland
4. Interference with taste perception
5. Age changes
6. Systemic diseases
7. Disease of the salivary gland
8. Irradiation of glands.

12. Most important attribute of salivary
secretions:
Protective in nature – helps maintain
integrity of teeth, tongue & mucous
membrane of oral and pharyngeal
areas.

13. Role in Oral Health:
1. Lubrication & Protection
- glycoproteins & mucoids produced
by the salivary glands forms a
protective covering for the mucous
membrane against irritants.

14. 2. Buffering action
- because of its bicarbonate,
phosphate & amphoteric proteins.
- bacteria require specific pH
condition.

15. 3. Maintenance of tooth integrity
because it:
a. Provides minerals for
posteruptive maturation.
b. Provides ions to counteract tooth
dissolution.
c. Forms a film of glycoprotein that
may act as a diffusion barrier,
to prevent loss of tooth mineral.

16. 4. Antibacterial activity against
bacteria & viral invasion.
- Lysozyme, IgA, Sialoperoxidase
thiocynate & Lactoferin

17. > Saliva plays a role in the formation
of plaque & calculus and is therefore
intimately related to caries and
periodontal disease.

18. > Salivary glycoprotein + precipitation
+ pellicle + microorganisms overgrow
+ plaque + mineralization + calculus.

19. Functions of Saliva: (Lavelle)
1. Digestive Function
- amylase as main digestive enzyme
2. Excretory Function
- saliva provides as important
excretory route for blood components

20. 3. Solvent Function
- by facilitating digestion
- dissolution of foodstuff (one of the
major salivary function)
4. Protective Function
- protects oral tissues from dehydration
- mechanical food & microbial debris
lavage

21. Process of Secretion: (Ferguson)
> Stimuli to Digestive Organ has
three phases:
1. Cephalic – conditioned stimuli:
a. Psychological Phase
b. Visual Phase
c. Olfactory Phase

22. a. Psychological phase
> “the thought of food
b. Visual phase
> ”the sight of food”
c. Olfactory phase
> “the smell of food”

23. 2. Intraorgan – within organ stimuli
(most important for salivary
secretion)
a. Mechanical stimuli – touch &
pressure on oral structures and
movements of masticatory muscles
and mandible

24. b. Chemical stimuli – substances that
stimulate taste receptors
3. Interorgan – stimulatory effect on
secretion from irritation to the
esophagus
e.g. vomiting reflex

25. Role in Oral Health:
1. Pellicle & plaque deposition
2. Plaque mineralization &
calculus formation
3. Dental caries

26. PELLICLE
- thin, cellular &
essentially bacteria
free covering of the
tooth which consist of
various glycoprotein
derived from the
mucous salivary
gland.

27. - thin deposit may form shortly after
eruption on the exposed surface of the
teeth.
- reformed within minutes after
exposure of pumice-polished teeth to
saliva.
- due to rapid formation, it precedes the
first stage in plaque formation.

28. PLAQUE
- localized
concentration of
microorganism on
the tooth surface.
- accretion of
necrotic debris,
foodstuff substances
& salivary
glycoproteins.

29. - contains mono & oligosaccharides
that serve as substrates for microbial
growth.
- Streptococcus mutans is the
predominant organism that
enzymatically degrade plaque.

30. CALCULAR DEPOSIT
- grainy in nature &
act as mechanical
irritant.
- by product of
calcification of
organic products &
microorganisms.

31. - calcified bacterial plaque
- organic components consist mainly
of Calcium & Phosphate.

32. - Types of Calculus:
a. Supragingival
- creamy white or
yellowish in color
- hard in consistency
- most abundantly
seen opposite the
opening of the major
salivary glands

33. b. Subgingival
- dark brown to black
due to blood pigments
- hard to very hard in
consistency
- found in the
periodontal pockets of
any tooth.

34. DENTAL CARIES
- is a microbial
disease of the calcified
tissues of the teeth,
characterized by
demineralization of the
inorganic portion &
destruction of the
organic substance of
the tooth.

35. - Five general ways by which saliva
can affect caries:
a. to mechanically cleanse & thus
lessen plaque accumulation.
b. to reduce enamel solubility by
plaque modification through calcium,
phosphate & fluoride.

36. c. buffer & neutralize the acids either
produce cariogen or introduced
directly through diet.
d. direct anti-bacterial activity.
e. by aggregation or clumping
bacteria & reducing adherence to
teeth surfaces.

37. GINGIVAL FLUIDS
- Sulcular fluid
- fluid found in the gingival sulcus
which seeps through the thin sulcular
epithelium.

38. Have a blessed day!!!