saliva

Saliva is the mouth’s most important natural defence against tooth decay. Made up of over 99% water, with the remaining 1% made up of organic molecules (mainly proteins, including glycoproteins) and electrolytes (sodium, chloride, bicarbonate, bicarbonate, calcium and phosphate), saliva has three main protective (anti-caries) functions. The water dilutes and washes away dietary sugars, the bicarbonate neutralises and buffers plaque acids, and the calcium and phosphate ions contribute to remineralisation of early caries lesions.