saliva comes from the parotid gland in the mouth.
saliva comes from the parotid gland in the mouth.
where does saliva come from in the mouth?
parotid gland
because medications have been linked to approximately 22% to 28% of all cases of dysgeusia, researching a treatment for this particular cause has been important. xerostomia, or a decrease in saliva flow, can be a side effect of many drugs, which, in turn, can lead to the development of taste disturbances such as dysgeusia. patients can lessen the effects of xerostomia with breath mints, sugarless gum, or lozenges, or physicians can increase saliva flow with artificial saliva or oral pilocarpine. artificial saliva mimics the characteristics of natural saliva by lubricating and protecting the mouth but does not provide any digestive or enzymatic benefits. pilocarpine is a cholinergic drug meaning it has the same effects as the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. acetylcholine has the function of stimulating the salivary glands to actively produce saliva. the increase in saliva flow is effective in improving the movement of tastants to the taste buds.
dysgeusia
gum chewing is regarded as a helpful way to cure halitosis (bad breath). chewing gum not only helps to add freshness to breath but can aid in removing food particles and bacteria associated with bad breath from teeth. it does this by stimulating saliva, which essentially washes out the mouth. chewing sugar-free gum for 20 minutes after a meal helps prevent tooth decay, according to the american dental association, because the act of chewing the sugar-free gum produces saliva to wash away bacteria, which protects teeth. chewing gum after a meal replaces brushing and flossing, if that's not possible, to prevent tooth decay and increase saliva production. chewing gum can also help with the lack of saliva or xerostomia since it naturally stimulates saliva production. saliva is made of chemicals, such as organic molecules, inorganic ions and macromolecules. 0.5% of saliva deals with dental health, since tooth enamel is made of calcium phosphate, those inorganic ions in saliva help repair the teeth and keep them in good condition. the ph of saliva is neutral, which having a ph of 7 allows it to remineralize tooth enamel. falling below a ph of 5.5 (which is acidic) causes the saliva to demineralize the teeth.
chewing gum