The role of saliva in sensing food taste

Saliva. . Saliva or saliva and saliva are greasy, clear, or foamy secretions secreted from the salivary glands into the mouth with many different uses , most importantly helping to chew and digest food before swallowing, and regulate the acidity in the mouth to keep teeth from worsening.

Picture 1 of The role of saliva in sensing food taste
The most important role of saliva is to help chew and digest food before swallowing.

Saliva provides the fluid environment needed to bind food molecules to the tongue taste.

To feel the taste of food, the taste buds on our tongue need a liquid environment like saliva to bind the food molecule to its receptors.

Saliva also contains an enzyme called amylase , a catalyst that breaks down carbohydrates into simple sugars. So if you don't have saliva, you may feel that carbohydrate foods have an unusual taste.

In addition, saliva contains a natural antiseptic that helps to kill harmful germs.

  1. Effect of animal saliva
  2. Saliva detoxifies and relieves pain