Salivary Gland - Salivary is a secretion that associated to mouth, produced by three pairs of major salivary glands: sublingual gland, submandibular, and parotid, which is located outside the oral cavity and salivary channeling through short ducts into the mouth (Sherwood, 2001; Irianto, 2004).
In saliva contains some electrolytes (Na +, K +, Cl -, HCO 3 -, Ca 2 +, Mg 2 +, HPO4 2 -, SCN -, and F -), proteins (amylase, mucin, histatin, cystatin, peroxidase , lysozyme, and lactoferrin), immunoglobulin (sIgA, Ig G, and Ig M), organic molecules (glucose, amino acids, urea, uric acid, and fat), and other components such as epidermal growth factor (EGF), insulin, cyclic adenosine monophosphatebinding protein, and serum albumin (Nanci, 2003; Rai, 2007).
Salivary function is a saliva begin the digestion of carbohydrates in the mouth by salivary amylase work, which is an enzyme that breaks down polysaccharides into disaccharides; simplify the process of swallowing saliva to wet the food particles, so that they merge with each other, as well as by generating lubrication due to mucus, thick and slippery; has an antibacterial effect through a dual effect, first by lysozyme, an enzyme that lyse or destroy certain bacteria, and secondly by rinsing the material that may be used bacteria as a food source; serves as a solvent for molecules that stimulate the optic disc taster; help us talk to facilitate the movement of the lips and tongue. It is hard to talk when your mouth is dry.
Saliva plays an important role in oral hygiene by helping to maintain a healthy mouth and teeth. Salivary flow to help rinse continuous food residue, releasing epithelial cells, and foreign objects. Bicarbonate buffer in saliva neutralize the acids in the food and acid produced by bacteria in the mouth, thus helping to prevent dental caries (Amerongen, 1992; Sherwood, 2001; Nanci, 2003; Setiadi, 2007).
See also Salivary Glands
