The role of saliva in oral health and disease

A central part of a dental nurse's role is to aspirate while a dentist, dental hygienist or dental therapist is working in the patient's mouth. Dental nurses therefore need to understand the part that saliva plays in maintaining health, as well as its association with oral disease.

In this article, its composition and functions will be discussed along with the problems which occur with having too much or too little saliva.

Saliva, commonly known as spittle, spit, slobber, slaver, sputum or dribble, is the watery liquid that is secreted into the mouth by the salivary glands and bathes the oral mucosa and the teeth. According to Featherstone (2010), ‘saliva plays a key role in preventing caries in that it neutralises acids and provides minerals and proteins that protect the teeth’.