The Role of Saliva in Staying Cavity-Free

What’s So Special About Saliva?
We usually think of saliva (aka spit) as just water in our mouths—but it’s so much more than that. It’s made by your salivary glands and plays a powerful role in your overall health, especially when it comes to your mouth and teeth.

Some dentists even call it liquid gold. So what makes saliva so special?

💧 Saliva protects and rebuilds your teeth

Your saliva is packed with minerals like calcium and phosphate that help remineralize your enamel—aka repair early damage before it turns into a cavity. This process is more complex than it sounds, and it depends on having healthy saliva working with your body’s natural biology.

🦠 Saliva keeps your oral microbiome in balance

Your spit isn’t just sitting around—it’s actively feeding good bacteria, creating a healthy environment in your mouth, and keeping harmful microbes in check. It even helps your immune system and keeps the pH balanced. But when saliva flow drops? Things can quickly spiral into dysbiosis (an unhealthy shift in bacteria).

🍽 Saliva starts digestion (and helps your gut, too!)

Digestion starts way before your food hits your stomach. Your saliva contains enzymes that begin breaking down food in your mouth. Chewing well—ideally at least 20 times per bite—activates saliva and sets up your gut microbiome for success.

What causes low saliva flow?

Several things can reduce your saliva, and that’s when problems start creeping in:

• Mouth breathing – dries out your mouth and disrupts your oral microbiome

• Dehydration – if you’re not drinking enough water, your salivary glands can’t keep up

• Medications – certain meds like antidepressants, stimulants (ADHD), opioids, and benzos are known to cause dry mouth

Signs you’re not making enough saliva:

• Dry mouth (obviously)

• More cavities than usual

• Sore or inflamed gums

• Trouble swallowing

How to naturally boost your saliva:

✅ Stay hydrated – but not just with plain water. Use filtered water and add trace minerals for extra support.
✅ Chew real food – chewing activates saliva flow. The more you chew, the more you produce.
✅ Eat mineral-rich foods – give your saliva the building blocks it needs to remineralize your teeth.
✅ Breathe through your nose – this keeps your saliva from drying out and keeps your oral environment stable.

Saliva isn’t just spit—it’s a powerful protector. Take care of it, and it will take care of your teeth, your mouth, and your gut.

Until next time,
Dr. Norma Cortez
Your Biological Airway Dentist