Salivary flow has which function?

Salivary flow has which function?

• A. Speeds clearance of food from the mouth and provides a source of dietary fluoride to strengthen the tooth and assist in remineralization
• B. Increases digestion of starches
• C. Promotes tooth decay
• D. Provides the primary source of energy

Answer: (A)

Saliva plays a protective role in the mouth by cleansing and buffering. Its flow helps wash away food particles quickly after eating, which reduces the amount of time sugars and acids stay in contact with teeth. This cleansing action lessens the opportunity for acid attack that leads to demineralization. Additionally, saliva acts as a carrier for minerals and fluoride that come from what you eat and from dental products. The fluoride in saliva can help strengthen enamel and support remineralization, making teeth more resistant to decay. So the function described—speeding the clearance of food from the mouth and providing fluoride to strengthen teeth and assist in remineralization—best captures how saliva protects dental health. While saliva does contain enzymes that begin starch digestion, the key protective effect emphasized here is cleansing and fluoride-mediated strengthening of enamel.

Saliva plays a protective role in the mouth by cleansing and buffering. Its flow helps wash away food particles quickly after eating, which reduces the amount of time sugars and acids stay in contact with teeth. This cleansing action lessens the opportunity for acid attack that leads to demineralization. Additionally, saliva acts as a carrier for minerals and fluoride that come from what you eat and from dental products. The fluoride in saliva can help strengthen enamel and support remineralization, making teeth more resistant to decay. So the function described—speeding the clearance of food from the mouth and providing fluoride to strengthen teeth and assist in remineralization—best captures how saliva protects dental health. While saliva does contain enzymes that begin starch digestion, the key protective effect emphasized here is cleansing and fluoride-mediated strengthening of enamel.