Explained in simple terms

“Why can I actually spit?”

The body produces up to 1.5 liters of saliva every day.(Bild: Vladimir Bolokh/stock.adobe.com)

You always have this liquid in your mouth, but much more during the day than at night. It is called saliva or spit. Read on to find out where it comes from, how much of it is actually produced in a day, and why it is so important.

You've probably noticed that your mouth waters when you see something delicious that you really want to eat. Whether it's chocolate cake or pizza – it all depends on your taste. That's when a lot of saliva is produced in your mouth. Maybe you've already experimented with this as a little researcher and simply spat on the floor to take a closer look at it. As long as you don't spit in someone's face – which is considered very rude – everything is fine.

What is saliva?
It is produced and secreted in the small and large salivary glands in the mouth. Up to 1.5 liters are produced every day. That's quite a lot. Just think of the size of the water bottles in the supermarket. To ensure that you always have enough saliva and that it doesn't "run out" (an idiom), you should drink enough fluids.

A great mixture
And while we're on the subject of water: saliva may look similar, but it's not just water. It also contains mineral salts, substances that aid digestion, and particles that can destroy harmful intruders such as pathogens.

Acid from food or acid formed by bacteria in the mouth from sugar attacks the enamel (the hard outer layer of the teeth). This promotes the development of caries.

Saliva is important for your dental health.(Bild: Aleksandr Korchagin/stock.adobe.com)

Saliva takes care of these acids and renders them harmless. Our chewing tools are safe again. Saliva also releases minerals, repairing the damaged tooth enamel after a meal. Like water from a watering can, this fluid also rinses food debris from the oral cavity, the spaces between the teeth, and the teeth themselves.

Good lubricant
Saliva also keeps the oral cavity moist and helps us speak and taste. It ensures that flavors from food are released and distributed more easily when we eat. It also helps us swallow by softening the food we eat. This allows it to slide easily through the esophagus towards the stomach. In addition, saliva contains certain substances that initiate the digestion of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates in the mouth. It's a great fluid that you produce yourself.