Functions of saliva

• Smoothing and shaping food into a bolus, bolus that can be swallowed easily.
• Chemically dissolve the food to taste flavor
• Moisturizes and lubricates the food so it can be swallowed.
• Saliva also menmberikan moisture to the lips and tongue so that spared from the drought.
• Break down carbohydrates, polysaccharides and starch into maltose, a disaccharide. (Because of the enzyme amylase in saliva).
• Serves to cleanse the oral cavity and teeth and prevent tooth decay by as there are antibacterial substances and antibodies in saliva.
• Prevent damage and erosion on the teeth.
• Minimize the acidity in the oral cavity, preventing damage to tooth structure when there is vomiting.
• Remineralization process because the saliva contains ions such as Ca, P.
• Help facilitate the process of talking with lip and tongue movements.
• Slow the flow of saliva in the mouth so that saliva to be hypotonic, slightly acidic, rich in K + but not Na + and Cl-. If the fast flow ion composition is not enough time to change in the duct, so saliva is isotonic with the concentration of Na + and Cl-is higher.