Saliva and Salivary Glands

How do we classify salivary glands

location, size, and nature of secretion

What are the major salivary glands?

parotid, submandibular, sublingual

Describe the Parotid Gland (location, duct, secretions)

location: beneath and under each ear

duct: stenson's duct (looks like a flap of tissue by maxillary second molar)

secretion: serous, 25% of all saliva

Describe the Submandibular Gland (location, duct, secretions)

location: submandibular triangle below the jaw

duct: wharton's (drains from here, comes out of sublingual cruncle)

secretion: mixed, mostly serous, 60-65% of all saliva, produces most saliva

Describe the Sublingual Gland

location: floor of oral cavity

duct: bartholin's

secretion: mixed, mostly mucous, 10% of all saliva

Describe the lingual minor salivary gland (location, secretion)

located on the tip and psoterior aspect of the tongue

mucous and serous secretion

Describe the labial minor salivary gland (location, secretion)

located on labial mucosa

mucosa and serous secretion

Describe the buccal minor salivary gland (location, secretion)

located on buccal mucosa

mucosa and serous secretion

Describe the palate minor salivary gland (location, secretion)

located on soft palate and lateral aspects of hard palate

mucous secretion

Describe the traits of saliva

(smell, color, consistency, role, what is it like at resting and active states)

Odorless

Colorless or cloudy

Ropy (thick) or watery (thin)

Bathes teeth and tissues

Resting: unstimulated

Active: stimulated (10 x resting rate)

How does saliva flow?

flows day and night

produce 3 pints of saliva a day

Where does saliva come from in the resting sate?

major glands

How do we describe the amount of flow of saliva we have?

copious (heavy flow)

scanty (minimal flow)

How do we describe the viscosity of flow of saliva we have?

ropy (more mucous, thicker)

watery (more serous, runny)

What is the composition of saliva?

99% water, 1% solids

Describe the organic solids of saliva

Mucin (proteins)

Enzymes (amylase)

Antibodies

Blood clotting factors

Lipids

Describe the inorganic solids of saliva

Salts: bicarbonates, chlorides,

phosphates: (calcium, sodium, potassium)

Phosphates are called buffers

Describe Mucin (organic solid in saliva)

proteins in saliva

gives "sliminess" quality

Describe Enzymes (organic solid in saliva)

Begin digestive process

Ex: amylase

What is the normal pH level of saliva?

6.0 - 7.9 (generally around neutral)

How does saliva's pH fluctuate?

falls during sleep (acidic)

rises during eating (increase in salivary flow, basic)

falls after eating (acidic, signifiant in caries)

What does an increase in salivary flow cause?

increase in buffers available = increase in pH

Describe the concept of salivary flow increasing while we eat

calcium and phosphate (buffers) become more available in saliva

this then increases salivary pH (moves back to neutral/ normal for individual)

What increases salivary flow?

Sight/smell food

Mastication

Dental work

Pain

What decreases salivary flow?

Fear/anxiety

Sleep

Fever

Medications

After eating

Systemic conditions

(ex. Sjogren's)

What is xerostomia?

dry mouth

decrease of salivary production and ongoing dry mouth

What are the causes of xerostomia?

drug-induced/medication

radiation from cancer treatment that destroys salivary glands or salivary gland dysfunction

systemic problem like Sjogren's

What are the side effects of xerostomia?

mouth becomes more acidic because of lack of available buffers

residual saliva is more mucous- and viscous-like

What are the problems in the mouth of xerostomia?

mucositis, mouth infections, increase in caries and tissue inflammation

What are the treatments for xerostomia?

Biotene products

Daily fluoride products

Xylitol-containing gum to reduce strep mutans and increase salivary flow

Amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP): contains ca and phosph to help replenish those ions in tooth structure

practice good self care for plaque removal

What are the physical functions of saliva?

Lubricates oral cavity

Aids in the digestive process (enzymes)

Carrier

What are the chemical functions of saliva?

Neutralizing agent (buffers)

Aids in healing

Anti-bacterial

Excretory functions (ex. ANUG odor)

What are the clinical considerations for glands?

possible site of pathology; variations of normal

fordyce granules, tumor, mucocele

What are the clinical considerations for saliva?

Lubricant for speech and mastication

Role in plaque and calculus formation

Cleansing vs. retention of food

Absence: caries, tissue inflammation

Influence on health and disease

How do we test saliva?

Volume

Flow rates

Type (serous vs. mucous)

pH

Buffering ability