Saliva

thumb|Saliva on a baby's lips Saliva (commonly referred to as spit, drool or slobber) is an extracellular fluid produced and secreted by salivary glands in the mouth. In humans, saliva is around 99% water, plus electrolytes, mucus, white blood cells, epithelial cells (from which DNA can be extracted), enzymes (such as lingual lipase and amylase), and antimicrobial agents (such as secretory IgA, and lysozymes).

glands that produces saliva

An amylase () is an enzyme that catalyses the hydrolysis of starch (Latin '''') into sugars. Amylase is present in the saliva of humans and some other mammals, where it begins the chemical process of digestion. Foods that contain large amounts of starch but little sugar, such as rice and potatoes, may acquire a slightly sweet taste as they are chewed because amylase degrades some of their starch into sugar. The pancreas and salivary gland make amylase (alpha amylase) to hydrolyse dietary starch into disaccharides and trisaccharides which are converted by other enzymes to glucose to supply the

Xerostomia, also known as dry mouth, is a subjective complaint of dryness in the mouth, which may be associated with a change in the composition of saliva, reduced salivary flow, or have no identifiable cause.

thumb|A cartoon of Charlie Chaplin spitting on the ground (1931, by [[Hinko Smrekar)]] thumb|"Don't spit" prevention poster

swiftlet bird nests made from saliva and harvested for human consumption

a thin, rectangular sheet used in dentistry to isolate the operative site

Hypersalivation or hypersialosis is the excessive production of saliva. It has also been defined as increased amount of saliva in the mouth, which may also be caused by decreased clearance of saliva.

duct that saliva takes from the parotid gland into the mouth

salivary gland

saliva particles involuntarily expelled from the mouth during speech

licking an injury