Research Topic · Peer-Reviewed

Saliva

Saliva is the complex aqueous secretion produced by the major and minor salivary glands and released into the oral cavity. Though largely water, it contains electrolytes, mucins, digestive enzymes such as amylase, antimicrobial proteins, and immunoglobulins, a composition that supports several physiological roles. B…

Curated from this journal's research 📚 11 peer-reviewed articles cited Cited 46× across the literature 🔖 ISSN 2473-1005 🗓 Reviewed June 2026

Overview

Saliva is the complex aqueous secretion produced by the major and minor salivary glands and released into the oral cavity. Though largely water, it contains electrolytes, mucins, digestive enzymes such as amylase, antimicrobial proteins, and immunoglobulins, a composition that supports several physiological roles. By lubricating the mucosa and coating food, saliva enables speech, swallowing, and the formation of a cohesive bolus, while salivary amylase begins the digestion of starch. Its bicarbonate buffering neutralizes acids, and its supersaturation with calcium and phosphate promotes remineralization, protecting the dentition against demineralization and caries; fluoride and silver-ion interventions act within this protective chemistry. Antimicrobial constituents and secretory immunoglobulins contribute to host defense and help shape and regulate the oral microbiome, the resident bacterial community whose composition can shift with behaviors such as drug use, smoking, and vaping. Saliva also interacts with sensory function, including the perception of bitter taste, and its mucin biology parallels that of other mucosal secretions. Increasingly, saliva serves as a non-invasive diagnostic medium: because it reflects systemic as well as local physiology, salivary measurements, such as cortisol as an index of the stress response, and other biomarkers offer accessible windows onto health. Related oral fluids, including gingival crevicular fluid, similarly inform the study of periodontal and orthodontic processes.

Research published in this journal

11 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.

How this research is being cited

The 11 articles above have been cited 46 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.

A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Saliva, linking to each citing work.

Editorial oversight

Curated from peer-reviewed research published in Dentistry And Oral Implants (ISSN 2473-1005).

Journal editorial board
Austin Lin Yee · United States Janet H. Southerland · United States Brian Muzyka · United States

This page summarises published research for orientation; it is not medical or professional advice.