What your saliva can reveal about your health
You are likely aware of the conventional methods your doctor uses to assess your health, such as measuring blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature and obtaining blood, urine, or tissue samples. But there's another lesser-known approach: saliva testing. If your doctor asks you for a saliva sample, it might sound strange, but it can tell them a lot about your health and wellness.
White and clumpy
If your saliva is white and clumpy, you might have an oral infection called thrush, caused by a fungus called candida albicans. This infection can be more common in people with diabetes due to the sugars in their saliva promoting yeast growth. Thrush can lead to white patches in the mouth and clumpy saliva. Dry mouth can also contribute to these issues.
Acidic saliva
Maintaining the right pH level in your mouth is important for your oral health. Ideally, your mouth should be close to a neutral pH of 7. If the pH balance is off, it can lead to increased bacteria in your teeth, causing tooth erosion and cavities. To maintain the pH balance, eat foods like watermelons, soybeans, and pumpkin seeds that are rich in arginine.
Excess saliva
If you are pregnant and find yourself producing more saliva than usual, don't worry, it is a common occurrence. This excess saliva can be due to changing hormones or feeling nauseated during pregnancy. While there aren't any significant health risks associated with this, it can be a bit inconvenient. To manage it, you can try chewing gum or sucking on hard candy.
Bitter or sour saliva
If you taste bitterness or sourness in your saliva, it might be due to acid reflux. This happens when stomach acid travels into your throat, causing an unpleasant taste. Acid reflux often comes with heartburn, bad breath, or nausea. Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes like losing weight or avoiding greasy and spicy foods to manage the condition.
Insufficient saliva
Breathing through your mouth instead of your nose might mean you are a mouth breather, and this habit can have oral health consequences. Your mouth stays hydrated best when you breathe through your nose because saliva, a natural disinfectant, plays a crucial role. When there's insufficient saliva due to mouth breathing, it creates conditions where bacteria can thrive, potentially leading to cavities.
