What secrets does saliva reveal in your body?

Although containing up to 99% of the water component, saliva is a very special substance, playing an essential role in maintaining good health as well as keeping many amazing secrets about the owner.

According to Gordon Proctor, professor of saliva biology at King's College (London, UK), saliva also contains the same types of bacteria found in our intestines as well as the saliva of our gut . Powerful substance that helps fight germs and promotes wound healing. This may be the reason why people instinctively put their fingers in their mouths if scratched or broken.

Currently, saliva is being used to detect disease . University of California (Los Angeles, USA) recently announced that it has developed a test method that can detect lung cancer at an early stage before the disease can be detected by a blood test. The new form looks for pieces of the tumor's DNA in a saliva and can produce results in less than 10 minutes.

Saliva also contains the same bacteria found in our gut.

Saliva has also been used to see if someone has an infection , such as HPV (related to cervical cancer). Scientists are also studying ways to use saliva to monitor diseases such as diabetes, at lower costs and easier to implement than blood or urine tests.

Here are some more amazing things about saliva, which most of us don't know:

Saliva contains testosterone

Saliva from both men and women contains hormones , including testosterone, estrogen and progesterone, cortisone and melatonin. This is because the above hormones are soluble in fat, so it is easy to pass through the cell walls into the salivary glands. Currently, scientists still do not know whether they have any physiological function in saliva.

Saliva also contains calcium , antibacterial compounds and peeling cells from the oral walls. That's why saliva testing can analyze DNA. "Without saliva, there will be problems with irritating infections, such as thrush, mouth ulcers and gum disease , " said Proctor.

Each person produces 3 different saliva types

Saliva is produced by salivary glands. Each person has 3 pairs of salivary glands: a pair in the cheek (parotid gland), a pair in the jaw (lower jaw line) and a sublingual pair (sublingual gland). They all transfer saliva through the tubes into the mouth.

Saliva is produced by salivary glands.

Each pair of salivary glands is producing a slightly different formula. For example, according to Proctor, the parotid gland produces saliva filled with water, which moisturizes food when we chew. Saliva below the mucous is much more sticky and a special "protective layer" that covers the inside of the mouth when the owner does not eat.

People produce less saliva at night because at this time, we are not eating, so there is no chewing action to stimulate saliva production. This is also why we may feel thirsty when we wake up.

When we see or smell food, the brain signals salivary glands to produce more saliva, sometimes even more when we start chewing. This is because the mechanical receptors (sensory cells recognize sound or touch) in the oral walls and in the gums recognize the pressure of chewing and transmitting signals to the brain.

Teeth will rot if lacking saliva

According to the dentist, Mervyn Druian, saliva is also important to help prevent tooth decay and loss of enamel, thanks to a substance that neutralizes acidity. In addition, antibacterial compounds in saliva can help remove plaque-causing bacteria.

Most importantly, the continuous flow of saliva washes away the excess bacteria, making them unable to hold firmly. Saliva even works to support teeth hardening because it contains calcium ingredients, can penetrate into tooth enamel.

Dry mouth can be a sign of disease

On average, an average person produces about 1-2 liters of saliva a day, close to the amount of urine they release.Lack of saliva may be a sign of health problems. For example, Sjogren's syndrome , an autoimmune disorder, gradually damages the salivary glands and can eventually stop the salivation process.

Lack of saliva may be a sign of health problems.

Although Sjogren does not threaten one's life, it can cause many inconveniences and discomfort. The incidence of this disease in women is 9 times higher in men and the disease tends to erupt in middle age.

In addition, people who have experienced radiation or chemotherapy may also produce less saliva or stop producing saliva.

Saliva can predict death

A study published in December 2015 found in the scientific journal PLOS One, the amount of antibody A (IgA) in the saliva of a person decreases when death is approaching. In particular, antibody A (IgA) is secreted by white blood cells to fight infection in the body.

Dr Anna Phillips, a health psychologist at Birmingham University (UK), who led the study, said: "We still need to see if saliva can be used in health checks like Although there is still a need to better understand the rate of antibody secretion to what extent should be considered worrisome, but we can now say with certainty, it is an early sign of the risk of death. "