Saliva is the watery and usually somewhat frothy substance produced in the mouths of some animals, including humans.

Produced in salivary glands, saliva is 98% water, but it contains many important substances, including electrolytes, mucus, antibacterial compounds and various enzymes.

The digestive functions of saliva include moistening food, and helping to create a food bolus, so it can be swallowed easily.

Saliva contains the enzyme amylase that breaks some starches down into maltose and dextrin.

Thus, digestion of food occurs within the mouth, even before food reaches the stomach.

For more information about the topic Saliva, read the full article at Wikipedia.org, or see the following related articles:

Salivary gland — The salivary glands produce saliva, which keeps the mouth and other parts of the digestive system moist. It also helps break down carbohydrates (with ...  > read more

Digestion — Digestion is the process whereby a biological entity processes a substance, in order to chemically convert the substance into nutrients. Digestion ...  > read more

Gastrointestinal tract — The gastrointestinal tract or digestive tract, also referred to as the GI tract or the alimentary canal or the gut, is the system of organs within ...  > read more

Esophagus — The esophagus (also spelled oesophagus/œsophagus), or gullet is an organ in vertebrates which consists of a muscular tube through which food ...  > read more

Editor's Note: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

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