You’ve probably already heard me talk about the importance of tooth remineralization. But what you may not know is just how important saliva is to this process. First of all, what actually is saliva and what does it do?
The smell of your favorite food, accidentally biting your tongue, and eating are some of the factors that cause saliva production. But saliva is more than just moisture in your mouth. Although saliva is mostly water, it is (or at least it should be) rich in important minerals and proteins.
Doctors can use saliva tests to test for candida levels, stress-induced cortisol levels, and other health markers. One of the most important functions of saliva is to keep your mouth healthy and your enamel strong.
How saliva helps oral health
In other words, saliva promotes remineralization of teeth.
On a practical level, when saliva washes over the teeth, they remineralize. Without proper nutrient levels, saliva does not contain the minerals needed for optimal tooth strength. Adequate nutrition is necessary for saliva to contain the necessary minerals to support remineralization.
It is well known that sufficient saliva is important to prevent tooth decay. There are multiple theories about the origin of tooth decay.
Spoilage is caused by acids in the mouth that allow bacteria to digest sugars. Alternatively, tooth decay occurs when there is an imbalance between demineralization of the enamel surface and remineralization caused by mineral ions returning to the enamel (Cure Tooth Decay by Rami Nagel) ).
Whichever theory is correct, saliva is important. Frequent stimulation of saliva, especially after eating sugar, helps dilute and buffer the acids in plaque. This allows excess mineral ions to be incorporated into the plaque fluid and promotes remineralization.
Saliva does more than just keep your mouth moist. It helps normalize pH levels, fight off harmful bacteria with its antibacterial properties, and cleanse your gums. Understanding and supporting the role of saliva will naturally improve your oral health. Prioritizing hydration, stress management, and a healthy diet are all important for healthy saliva.
Saliva fights bad bacteria
Studies have shown a clear link between age-related decreases in saliva production and an increased risk of periodontal disease. Saliva contains many substances that are essential to our immune system.
For example, lactoferrin is one of the compounds naturally found in saliva. Lactoferrin is part of our innate immune system and one of our important first lines of defense. This compound binds to iron in the mouth, depriving it of the iron needed by bacteria to grow and damage the gums.
Saliva is rich in necessary enzymes. One of the first recognized salivary enzymes involved in maintaining the oral ecosystem was lysozyme. The lysozyme enzyme seems to work by destabilizing the cell walls of bacteria that cause tooth decay and periodontal disease.
Saliva restores healthy oral pH
The oral cavity is a complex ecosystem that must be kept in balance for optimal oral health. This includes maintaining a bacterial environment, sufficient minerals, and proper pH. The best way to maintain a healthy oral pH is to support your immune system with a nutritious diet, proper sleep, and reduced stress, but saliva also plays an important role.
Factors that affect the amount of saliva
Saliva is key to the remineralization process and can actually reverse early cavities. However, like many natural processes, it is not immune to disruption. Factors such as allergies, mouth breathing, certain foods, and even stress can affect the amount and quality of saliva.
Certain medications and lifestyle factors can negatively affect salivary gland function.
Hormones are another piece of the puzzle. When your thyroid isn’t working properly, the pH of your mouth can become more acidic, increasing your risk of cavities. Conversely, increased estrogen also increases cavities and gum problems. Our mouths, gums, and salivary glands have estrogen receptors. During menopause, when estrogen levels drop, women may produce less saliva and experience dry mouth.
Stress is another factor that reduces saliva production. When you’re stressed, blood flow to your digestive system decreases, which reduces the function of your teeth and salivary glands.
How to increase saliva secretion
The “use it or lose it” principle applies to saliva production. It is important to exercise your ability to produce saliva and combat dry mouth and all the illnesses that come with it.
We naturally produce a lot of saliva when we eat, and saliva is busy promoting digestion during meals. Therefore, you can promote saliva flow in other ways. One way to do this is “swashing.” It may sound like a big deal at first, but it really helps.
swashing
Step 1: Collect the saliva in your mouth into a pool on your tongue. Next, use your throat muscles to move the saliva from the back of your tongue to just behind your front teeth and back again several times. 30 to 50 times is ideal. The more you practice, the more saliva you produce.
Step 2: Once you have a large pool of saliva on your tongue, wash it over your teeth and gums. Rinse with increased saliva for 1 to 2 minutes before swallowing, allowing the saliva to aid digestion in the stomach.
It’s a very simple technique, so even small children can do it. This video explains it in more detail.
Switch to natural toothpaste
Using natural toothpaste can also stimulate saliva production. I noticed an increase in saliva production when using this remineralizing toothpaste and OraWellness brushing blend. A good toothpaste provides your enamel with necessary minerals and promotes oral health.
Oil pulling and herbal therapy
If you don’t feel like doing a “swish” just yet, oil pulling is also a great way to increase saliva production. Sprinkling the oil in your mouth reduces plaque and may help improve your mouth’s microbiome. I use coconut oil, but sesame oil is also a traditional choice. Here we will show you how to do oil pulling.
Another strange way to increase saliva is to use herbal sialogogues. It’s a fancy term that simply means to increase saliva. Herbs like spirantes can be helpful for people with chronic dry mouth because they stimulate the salivary glands to release more fluid. Spirantes tinctures and teas can stimulate saliva secretion and are generally considered safe. But a word of warning: Start small, because it can go very well.
Final thoughts about saliva
Although we’re not big fans of saliva, we do know that it plays an important role in our oral and overall health. Hormones, stress, and other factors can reduce saliva production, but with focused efforts, you can promote healthy saliva flow.
Have you ever used any of these methods to increase saliva flow? What worked for you? Let us know by leaving a comment.
