Prepare for the Thanksgiving Feast: Why Saliva Is Wonderful When Eating

Every year, the family gathers around the table in November to enjoy a Thanksgiving spread. While some households are more traditional about the foods on the table than others, most families will take some time before eating to list what they are thankful for. When your friends and family members are listing things like health, family, shelter, and all those other wonderful things, take some time to appreciate the wonders of saliva. Here’s why you should be especially grateful for everything saliva does for your dental and overall health when you’re enjoying your Thanksgiving feast.

Saliva Helps Digest Your Food

You’ve probably heard that chewing is the first part of digestion, but saliva is an especially crucial component of that process. Your spit does more than just get your food wet. It is full of enzymes that start the chemical process of breaking your food down. This makes the food easier to chew, makes the nutrients easier to absorb, and lubricates the food to make it easier to swallow. This process also extracts more flavor from each bite, adding to the pleasure of the feast.

Saliva Helps Protect Your Teeth

When you are anticipating food, your mouth begins producing extra saliva to prepare for the meal. Saliva is a crucial part of your mouth’s natural cleaning process and its first line of defense against tooth decay and gum disease. Saliva lubricates your teeth, making them less vulnerable to wear and scratches during the chewing process, and it also contains fluoride and other minerals that help keep your teeth strong. It also serves to neutralize and dilute acids in the mouth while washing away food debris and bacterial buildup.

How Can I Help Saliva Do Its Job?

If you are truly grateful for your saliva, you’ll probably be interested in making sure that it can do its job properly. Certain habits can improve or hinder your saliva flow. One of the best things you can do to keep your saliva healthy and ample is to stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water every day and with meals will keep your glands hydrated enough to produce a generous flow of saliva. On the other hand, drinking caffeine or alcohol excessively can hinder your saliva flow, which leaves your teeth unprotected and allows bacteria and food debris to build up in your mouth.

This Thanksgiving, be sure to toast to everyone’s health. Just remember that saliva plays a huge part in keeping everyone healthy and the feast scrumptious.

About the Author

Dr. Jeffery F. Hermen earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery at The OU College of Dentistry, and today he pursues continuing education courses to stay on top of the latest developments in the field. He serves as a member of the Oklahoma Dental Association and has been on the board of the Oklahoma County Dental Society for twenty years. His office in Oklahoma City, OK offers general, pediatric, cosmetic, restorative, and emergency dentistry. For more information on maintaining good oral health, contact his office online or dial (405) 621-2100.