| Role |
Observations |
| Taste |
Saliva participates actively in taste perception by dissolving alimentary substances. |
| Protection |
Against inflammation and infection through specific biomolecules; mechanical wear through lubricating the oral tissues
Oral clearance - removal of unwanted foreign substances
Prevents enamel erosion |
| Buffer system |
Saliva maintains a constant salivary pH |
| Digestion |
Involved in formation of alimentary bolus; relationships between salivary flow and composition and process of swallowing. |
| Protection against foreign microorganisms. |
Antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties |
