Which statement about saliva is true?

• A. Saliva is critical to digestion and maintaining oral hygiene, and contributes to flavor.
• B. Saliva is not involved in digestion.
• C. Saliva only affects color.
• D. Saliva is a flavor chemical.

Answer: (A)

Saliva has multiple roles in digestion, oral health, and flavor perception. It moistens food and contains salivary amylase that begins breaking down starch in the mouth, so it contributes to digestion early in the process. It also helps keep teeth and gums healthy by washing away food particles, buffering acids produced by bacteria, and providing minerals and antimicrobial factors that protect oral tissues. For flavor, saliva dissolves flavor compounds and helps carry them to taste receptors, aiding taste and aroma perception. Because of these varied functions, the statement that saliva is critical to digestion and maintaining oral hygiene, and contributes to flavor, is true. The other choices misstate saliva’s role by suggesting it isn’t involved in digestion, only affects color, or is itself a flavor chemical.