When most people think about commonly experienced oral health problems, they often think about the gums and teeth. Few actually think about the importance of saliva in preventing many oral health issues. Therefore, when most people suffer from dry mouth (xerostomia), they often overlook it, when in fact it can pose serious oral health risks. Considering that Americans spend nearly $2-billion per year on toothpaste, it’s safe to say we are an oral health conscious collective. But often dry mouth is overlooked (even in lieu of a rash of dry mouth treatment products that are currently on the market and which are nonprescription for the most part).
Saliva is your mouth’s first line of defense against harmful bacterium that can infect gums and teeth, and that is responsible for tooth decay and tooth loss. Furthermore, saliva is also the only way that the mouth can neutralize acids in foods that would otherwise contribute to enamel erosion and ultimately tooth decay and tooth infection as well as irritated gums more prone to gum disease. While saliva is composed of about 95% water, the other 5% is the real helper for your mouth and consists of: electrolytes, mucus, glycoproteins, enzymes, and antibacterial compounds.
