What is the function of Saliva?

Answer 1

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Saliva digests carbohydrates, aids in chewing, and helps keep bacteria levels in the mouth down.

Answer 2

to dissolve food! obviously!

Answer 3

saliva has the enzyme ptyalin also known as salivary amylase which digests starch present in our food to maltose which further gets digested in the stomach into simple glucose by the action of other enzymes

Source(s):

brain

Answer 4

it digest few starch molecules in our mouth only..as it contains amylopectin n amylase....partial digestion of starch which is a polysachride takes place.

Answer 5

the functions of saliva are:
facilitate speaking &swallowing
lubricates food
acts as solvent
helps food particle to stick togetherto form bolus
converts stach into maltose
cleans mouth and tends to destroy germs
saliva aids in h2o balance in body

Answer 6

helps in lubricatin da food .... makin it easier 2 swallow !!!! ...... saliva has an enzyme - salivary amylase dat breaks down starch to maltose !!!

Answer 7

salive when mixes with the food we eat,softens it and it becomes easy for us to chew it and it even releases an enzyme Ptyalin which digests glucose into maltose sugar

Answer 8

saiva is scereted by salivary gland
its functin r
! moistning the food.
2 killing the bacteria in food.
3 digesting he starch upto 70%.
4 maintain the ph of food.
5 make it basedic.
etc

Answer 9

The main function of saliva to emulsified the food and digest the starch type of food material .

Answer 10

Saliva makes the food soft,and contain an enzyme called ptyalin to act on starch into maltose.

Answer 11

To make food digestable.

Answer 12

Helps in diestion.

Answer 13

Saliva contains a slippery glycoprotein called mucin, which protects the lining of the mouth from abrasion and lubricates food for easier swallowing. Saliva also contains buffers that prevent tooth decay by neutralizing acid in the mouth. Antibacterial agents in saliva kill many of the bacteria that enter the mouth with food...

Answer 14

Lubrication mixing with food and contains an enzyme ptyalin that breaks down starches.

Answer 15

Saliva is there to lubricate food for its journey down your esophagus. It also contains amylase, an enzyme that begins to digest starch, to begin breaking down foods that contain starches such as potatoes. Saliva also keeps the mucosal tissue in your mouth, such as your gums and the insides of your teeth, from drying out.

Answer 16

it lubricates the mouth inhibits bacteria and fungal invasion mixes with food to release sugars and is shared whilst kissing passionatly
it is also used as a standby when there is no KY gelly on hand to lubricate the genitalia in sexuel intercourse.
it also enables one to express digust, hate, and other emotions by being expelled onto the object of loathing hence the film title I spit on your grave.

Answer 17

It lubricates the food as you chew it, first, and second, it introduces the enzyme ptyalin which begins the process of breaking down simple starches (like the kind you find in bread and crackers).

Answer 18

to start the process of digestion

Answer 19

What then are the important functions of saliva? Saliva serves many roles, some of which are important to all species, and others to only a few:

Lubrication and binding: the mucus in saliva is extremely effective in binding masticated food into a slippery bolus that (usually) slides easily through the esophagus without inflicting damage to the mucosa. Saliva also coats the oral cavity and esophagus, and food basically never directly touches the epithelial cells of those tissues.

Solubilizes dry food: in order to be tasted, the molecules in food must be solubilized.

Oral hygiene: The oral cavity is almost constantly flushed with saliva, which floats away food debris and keeps the mouth relatively clean. Flow of saliva diminishes considerably during sleep, allow populations of bacteria to build up in the mouth -- the result is dragon breath in the morning. Saliva also contains lysozyme, an enzyme that lyses many bacteria and prevents overgrowth of oral microbial populations.

Initiates starch digestion: in most species, the serous acinar cells secrete an alpha-amylase which can begin to digest dietary starch into maltose. Amylase is not present, or present only in very small quantities, in the saliva of carnivores or cattle.

Provides alkaline buffering and fluid: this is of great importance in ruminants, which have non-secretory forestomachs.

Evaporative cooling: clearly of importance in dogs, which have very poorly developed sweat glands - look at a dog panting after a long run and this function will be clear.

Source(s):

www.ask.com

Answer 20

The digestive functions of saliva include moistening food, and helping to create a food bolus, so it can be swallowed easily. Saliva contains the enzyme amylase that breaks some starches down into maltose and dextrin. Thus, digestion of food occurs within the mouth, even before food reaches the stomach.

Saliva also has an important protective function, in that it helps prevent against tooth decay and erosion by way of its buffering properties. Tooth decay (or erosion) progresses rapidly when the oral environment becomes acidic (eg. after consuming a soft drink or from bacterial fermentation). Bicarbonate ions contained within saliva will act to neutralize this change in acidity, thus helping maintain a constant pH. By maintaining optimal pH levels, the rate of demineralisation (loss of tooth structure) is minimized.

Source(s):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saliva#Func…

Answer 21

Saliva, informally known as spit, is the moist, clear, and usually somewhat frothy substance produced in the mouths of some animals, including humans. Produced in salivary glands, saliva is 98% water, but it contains many important substances, including electrolytes, mucus, antibacterial compounds and various enzymes. To spit or the action of spitting (also called expectoration) is to expel saliva or other substances from the mouth.

FUNCTIONS
The digestive functions of saliva include moistening food, and helping to create a food bolus, so it can be swallowed easily. Saliva contains the enzyme amylase that breaks some starches down into maltose and dextrin. Thus, digestion of food occurs within the mouth, even before food reaches the stomach.

Saliva also has an important protective function, in that it helps prevent against tooth decay and erosion by way of its buffering properties. Tooth decay (or erosion) progresses rapidly when the oral environment becomes acidic (eg. after consuming a soft drink or from bacterial fermentation). Bicarbonate ions contained within saliva will act to neutralize this change in acidity, thus helping maintain a constant pH. By maintaining optimal pH levels, the rate of demineralisation (loss of tooth structure) is minimized.

Saliva also carries many important ions, calcium, phosphate and fluoride, that play a role in tooth remineralisation (rebuilding lost tooth structure). [1] The result of this is that, when acid attack occurs on a tooth, there is an equilibrium between demineralization and remineralisation. It is ideal for these two processes to occur at equal rates, however, if demineralization exceeds remineralisation, then loss of tooth structure occurs. For this reason, it is important for salivary function to be normal, otherwise an individual carries a higher risk of dental decay.

The importance of the salivary protective function can be demonstrated by considering a scenario where an individual is about to vomit. Vomit contains gastric substances which are extremely acidic and will erode teeth. A protective reflex occurs before the individual prepares to vomit. Signals are sent from the brain to the salivary glands via the involuntary nervous system to cause increased saliva secretion, even before vomiting occurs. Thus, when vomiting does occur, there is already saliva present in the mouth acting to minimize the acidity and thus prevent destruction of tooth structure.

In addition to this, saliva is responsible for depositing salivary pellicle that covers the entirety of the tooth surfaces. This pellicle is believed to play a role in plaque formation, though there is evidence that it may also act as a protective barrier between acids and the tooth surface. [2]

A common belief is that saliva contained in the mouth has natural disinfectants, which leads people to believe it is beneficial to "lick their wounds". Researchers at the University of Florida at Gainesville have discovered a protein called nerve growth factor (NGF) in the saliva of mice. Wounds doused with NGF healed twice as fast as untreated and unlicked wounds; therefore, saliva does have some curative powers in some species. NGF has not been found in human saliva; however, researchers find human saliva contains such antibacterial agents as secretory IgA, lactoferrin, and lactoperoxidase. [3] It has not been shown that human licking of wounds disinfects them, but licking is likely to help clean the wound by removing larger contaminants such as dirt and may help to directly remove infective bodies by brushing them away.

There has been some disagreement regarding the daily salivary output in a healthy individual. Today, it is believed that the average person produces about 700mL of saliva per day, which is much less than originally thought.

Answer 22

Saliva has several purposes
it is used also for digestion purposes
it is used to swallow
it is used to clean the teeth
-A

Answer 23

it's a digestive fluid
it's anti-bacterial
keeps your mouth from drying out.

Answer 24

also u hav to have saliva to taste the food

Answer 25

so your mouth wont be dry

Answer 26

To aid in digestion.

Answer 27

To break down foods.