I’m sure you’ve heard me talk about the importance of it now Regeneration of teeth. But what you don’t know is how important saliva is to this process. But first, what is saliva and what does it do?
The smell of your favorite food, accidentally biting your tongue, and eating are just a few things that can trigger saliva production. Saliva is more than just the wet stuff in our mouths. Although it is mostly water, saliva is full of important minerals and proteins (or at least it should be)!
Doctors can use saliva tests to check levels of candidacortisol levels with stress and other health markers. One of the functions of saliva is to maintain oral health and enamel strength.
How saliva benefits oral health
In short: Saliva is a way to rejuvenate teeth!
On a practical level, they are regenerated when saliva washes over the teeth. Without the proper amount of nutrients, saliva lacks the minerals teeth need for optimal strength. To support rumination, we need adequate nutrition to have the necessary minerals in saliva.
The importance of adequate saliva to prevent tooth decay has been proven. There are several theories about the origin of tooth decay:
- Decay is caused by acids produced by bacteria that digest sugar in the mouth; Or
- Tooth decay occurs when there is an imbalance between the mineralization of the enamel surface and the remineralization of mineral ions back into the enamel (as Rami Nagel explains in his book, Cure tooth decay)
Whichever theory is correct, saliva is important. Regularly stimulating saliva, especially after eating sugar, helps dissolve and accumulate plaque acid. This brings more mineral ions into the plaque fluid and promotes regeneration.
Saliva does more than protect our mouths. It helps to normalize pH levels, fight harmful bacteria with its antibacterial properties, and clean gums. Understanding and supporting the role of saliva naturally leads to better oral health. Prioritizing things like moisture, Stress managementAnd a healthy diet are all important for healthy saliva.
Saliva fights bad bacteria
Research shows a clear link between less saliva production as we age and the risk of developing gum disease. Saliva generally contains important substances for our immune system.
For example, lactoferrin is a compound found naturally in saliva. Lactoferrin is part of our natural immune system and one of our main lines of defense. This compound binds iron in the mouth, depriving gum-damaging bacteria of the iron they need to flourish.
Saliva is also a source of important enzymes. Lysozyme is one of the earliest recognized salivary enzymes that help maintain the oral ecosystem. The enzyme lysozyme appears to work by stabilizing the bacterial cell walls that cause tooth decay and gum disease.
Saliva restores a healthy oral pH
The mouth has a complex ecosystem that must be balanced for optimal oral health. This includes the bacterial environment. Having enough mineralsand maintaining the correct pH. The best way to maintain a healthy oral pH is to support the immune system with a nutrient-dense diet, proper sleep, and stress reduction, but saliva also plays a key role.
Factors that affect how much saliva we have
Saliva is key in the regeneration process, which can actually reverse early tooth decay. Like many natural processes, however, it is not without disruption. Factors such as allergies, mouth breathing, certain foods, and stress can affect how much saliva we make and its quality.
Certain medications and lifestyle habits can have a negative effect on how the salivary glands work properly.
Hormones are another piece of the puzzle. If the thyroid gland is not functioning as it should, this can lead to an acidic mouth (pH), which increases the risk of cavities. On the other hand, when estrogen goes up, so do cavities and gum issues. We have estrogen receptors in our mouth, gums, and salivary glands. During menopause As estrogen levels dip, women may experience dry mouth due to decreased saliva production.
Stress is another factor that plays a role in reducing saliva flow. When we are stressed, blood flow to the digestive system and teeth and salivary glands decrease.
How to increase saliva production
The “use it or lose it” principle applies to saliva production. It is important to use our ability to produce saliva or to deal with dry mouth and all the pains that come with it.
Although we naturally make a lot of saliva when we eat, when we eat, saliva is busy helping with digestion. Therefore, along with other methods, it helps to increase the flow of saliva. Here is one way of saying “wash.” It may seem difficult at first, but it really helps!
Wash
Step 1: Collect any saliva in your mouth in the basin of your tongue. Now, using the throat muscles, draw the saliva back and forth from the back of the tongue to the back of the front teeth and back several times. Thirty to fifty times is suitable. The more you exercise, the more saliva your glands produce.
Step 2: Once you have a large pool of saliva on your tongue, wash it over your teeth and gums. As you wash. Gargle with the extra saliva for a minute or two, then swallow and the saliva will support better digestion in the stomach!
This is a simple method that even small children can do. This video explains more.
Switch to natural toothpaste
Using natural toothpaste can help increase saliva production. I noticed a lot of saliva with this remineralizing toothpasteand also with OraWellness brush mix. A good toothpaste supplies enamel with the minerals it needs and promotes a healthy mouth.
Oil pulling and herbal remedies
If you can’t bring yourself to “douche” yet, oil pulling is another great way to increase saliva. Swishing the oil in the mouth can reduce plaque and help the oral microbiome. I use coconut oil, but sesame oil is another traditional choice. Here How to pull oil.
Another strange way to increase saliva is with herbal sialagogues. That’s a wonderful word that simply means increased salivation. Herbs like Spilanthes stimulate saliva to release more fluid, which can be beneficial for those with chronic dry mouth. Spilanthes tincture or tea can help increase saliva production and is generally considered safe. A word of warning though: start small because it can get busy so true all right!
Final thoughts on saliva
Although saliva is not my favorite thing to think about, it certainly plays an important role in our oral and overall health. Factors like hormones and stress can reduce saliva production, but with some effort, healthy saliva flow can be encouraged.
Have you ever used one of these methods to stimulate saliva flow before? What worked well for you? Leave a comment and let us know!
