[Role of saliva during mastication]

The chewing process is necessary to facilitate the digestion of food. For this process not only the grinding of the food by mechanical forces is of importance, but also the penetration of the food with saliva. This last process results in the formation of a smooth foodbolus that can be easily swallowed. In addition, the intimate contact between the fine ground food particles and the salivary digestive enzymes is a prerequisite for a rapid digestion. A high quality of saliva is an essential factor to protect the dental elements against attrition and, on the other hand, to promote the digestion process.