saliva

Also known as spittle, spit

thumb|Saliva on a baby's lips Saliva (commonly referred to as spit, drool or slobber) is an extracellular fluid produced and secreted by salivary glands in the mouth. In humans, saliva is around 99% water, plus electrolytes, mucus, white blood cells, epithelial cells (from which DNA can be extracted), enzymes (such as lingual lipase and amylase), and antimicrobial agents (such as secretory IgA, and lysozymes).

AI overview

Saliva is a fluid produced by glands in your mouth that is mostly water mixed with various useful substances like enzymes, mucus, and antimicrobial agents. It plays important roles in your body, including breaking down food, protecting your mouth from bacteria, and even providing material for DNA identification.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Research

84,602 papers

Influence of saliva on the oral microbiota.ReviewPeriodontology 2000 · 2016Marsh PD, Do T, Beighton D et al.DOI: 10.1111/prd.12098
Saliva diagnostics: Salivaomics, saliva exosomics, and saliva liquid biopsy.ReviewJournal of the American Dental Association (1939) · 2023Nonaka T, Wong DTWDOI: 10.1016/j.adaj.2023.05.006
Wonders of tick saliva.ReviewTicks and tick-borne diseases · 2019Nuttall PADOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.11.005
Saliva in the Diagnosis of COVID-19: A Review and New Research Directions.ReviewJournal of dental research · 2020Fernandes LL, Pacheco VB, Borges L et al.DOI: 10.1177/0022034520960070
Saliva as a matrix for therapeutic drug monitoring and disease biomarkers in children and adolescents.ReviewPharmacological reports : PR · 2025Resztak M, Czyrski A, Sobiak JDOI: 10.1007/s43440-025-00732-7
Saliva as a sample type for SARS-CoV-2 detection: implementation successes and opportunities around the globe.ReviewExpert review of molecular diagnostics · 2022Tobik ER, Kitfield-Vernon LB, Thomas RJ et al.DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2022.2094250
Sample Treatment for Saliva Proteomics.ReviewAdvances in experimental medicine and biology · 2019Amado F, Calheiros-Lobo MJ, Ferreira R et al.DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-12298-0_2
Saliva and dental caries.ReviewDental clinics of North America · 1999Dowd FJ

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Wikidata facts

Image: Gram stain saliva.jpg

Show 4 more facts

hashtag: saliva
NCI Thesaurus ID: C13275
Commons category: Saliva
WordLift URL: data.wordlift.io/wl01714/entity/saliva

Sources (6)

via Wikidata · CC0

~12 min read

Article

19 sections

Contents

Composition
Daily salivary output
Functions
Lubricant
Digestion
Role in taste
Disease diagnosis
Other
Production
Behavior
Spitting
Glue to construct bird nests
Wound licking
Classical conditioning
Making alcoholic beverages
Substitutes
See also
References
External links

The enzymes found in saliva are essential in beginning the process of digestion of dietary starches and fats. These enzymes also play a role in breaking down food particles trapped within dental crevices, thus protecting teeth from bacterial decay. Saliva also performs a lubricating function, wetting food and permitting the initiation of swallowing, and protecting the oral mucosa from drying out.