What is saliva and what is its function?
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It is a liquid your body produces to add moisture to food for easier swallowing and contains a solution starts the digestion of the food even before you swallow it.
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One of the main functions of gut flora is protection. The friendly and rapidly-replicating gut microbes out-compete pathogens. They inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria by secreting substances that are toxic to non-indigenous bacteria.\nThe natural gut flora also secrete vitamins B12 and K as metabolic by-products. Lactose-fermenting bacteria such as E coli produce lactase, the enzyme that breaks down lactose, a sugar found in milk and other dairy products.
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When I was in high school, we had a man come in who was HIV+ talking about the virus. He told us that small amounts of saliva won't transfer the disease; ex: kisses here and there, or sharing utinsels. Saliva will transfer it if a LOT is digested; ex: drinking a cup of spit. I know, it's kinda gross, but hopefully my point is taken.
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It is a protrusion from a fungus, if I remember correctly. It is necessary for feeding saprophytically, that is secreting digestive enzymes into food then absorbing the digested food.
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I hope this helps: \n\nWhere Are Your Salivary Glands?\nThe glands are found in and around your mouth and throat. We call the major salivary glands the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands. \n\nThey all secrete saliva into your mouth, the parotid through tubes that drain saliva, called salivary ducts, near your upper teeth, submandibular under your tongue, and the sublingual through many ducts in the floor of your mouth. \n\nBesides these glands, there are many tiny glands called minor salivary glands located in your lips, inner cheek area (buccal mucosa), and extensively in other linings of your mouth and throat. Salivary glands produce the saliva used to moisten your mouth, initiate digestion, and help protect your teeth from decay. \n\nAs a good health measure, it is important to drink lots of liquids daily. Dehydration is a risk factor for salivary gland disease. \n\n \nWhat Causes Salivary Gland Problems? \nSalivary gland problems that cause clinical symptoms include: \n\nObstruction: Obstruction to the flow of saliva most commonly occurs in the parotid and submandibular glands, usually because stones have formed. Symptoms typically occur when eating. Saliva production starts to flow, but cannot exit the ductal system, leading to swelling of the involved gland and significant pain, sometimes with an infection. Unless stones totally obstruct saliva flow, the major glands will swell during eating and then gradually subside after eating, only to enlarge again at the next meal. Infection can develop in the pool of blocked saliva, leading to more severe pain and swelling in the glands. If untreated for a long time, the glands may become abscessed. \n\nIt is possible for the duct system of the major salivary glands that connects the glands to the mouth to be abnormal. These ducts can develop small constrictions, which decrease salivary flow, leading to infection and obstructive symptoms. \n\nInfection: The most common salivary gland infection in children is mumps, which involves the parotid glands. While this is most common in children who have not been immunized, it can occur in adults. However, if an adult has swelling in the area of the parotid gland only on one side, it is more likely due to an obstruction or a tumor. \nInfections also occur because of ductal obstruction or sluggish flow of saliva because the mouth has abundant bacteria.\n\nYou may have a secondary infection of salivary glands from nearby lymph nodes. These lymph nodes are the structures in the upper neck that often become tender during a common sore throat. In fact, many of these lymph nodes are actually located on, within, and deep in the substance of the parotid gland or near the submandibular glands. When these lymph nodes enlarge through infection, you may have a red, painful swelling in the area of the parotid or submandibular glands. Lymph nodes also enlarge due to tumors and inflammation. \n\n\nMore information at  WEBMD.com
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dental dams are pieces of a rubber like substance that is inserted into the mouth to help prevent bacteria or wetness into the section of the mouth while the dentist works.  they can also be used for oral sex; they sell flavored dental dams in adult stores.  you don't have to put them in your mouth for oral sex just over the area you intent to lick.
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In physiology, the term serous fluid is used for various bodily fluids that are typically pale yellow and transparent, and of a benign nature.\nSaliva consists of mucus and serous fluid; the serous fluid contains the enzyme amylase important for the digestion of carbohydrates.\nAnother type of serous fluid is secreted by the serous membranes (or serosa), two layered membranes which line the body cavities. The serous fluid between the two layers acts as a lubricant and reduces friction from muscle movement.\nBlood plasma is the liquid component of blood, in which the blood cells are suspended. Plasma is the largest single component of blood, making up about 55% of total blood volume. Serum refers to blood plasma in which clotting factors (such as fibrin) have been removed. Blood plasma contains many vital proteins including fibrinogen, globulins and human serum albumin.
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Saliva helps to masticate food and adds fluid so swallowing is easier.  It contains amylase which begins assisting in chemical break down of starches.\n\nOur body, serum has a pH of 7.40 +/- 0.02.  Only under extreme circumstances would our body pH deviate beyond the variance above.  Eating would not change it.  \n\nSwallowing a whole bottle of aspirin might, though (aspirin is an acid).  The kidneys and our respiration system would work very hard to get it back to normal as soon as possible.
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The mucosa, the skin that covers (among many others) your mouth, nose and throat, produces mucus to protect istself from bacteriae and viridae. If there is an infection in your body, the mucosa decides it has to protect itself more and broduces more mucus. that's all there is.
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you need saliva to help break down food
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Divers use saliva to defog their masks because of it's inherent viscosity and convenience.\n\nSaliva is not a good lense cleaning solution per se. An alcohol based solution cuts through grime much better.\n\nHowever, In the water saliva prevents fogging by existing as an aqueous film on the inside of the glass.\n\nThere are mechanical devices which can do the same thing -- but saliva is typically there when other things aren't.
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The human body has a natural defence mechanism.Two examples of body secretions that help in fighting against pathogens are sweat and mucus.While sweat contains lactic acid,mucus prevents entry of large foreign particles and also contains lysozyme(a lipid splitting enzyme).Both lactic acid and lysozyme destroy pathogens by disrupting their cell membranes' integrity.
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There are so many different enzymes in your body. They are mostly for digesting food. Like in saliva, you have amalayse which starts the breakdown of food. You can get more info at webmd.com.
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chewing has a number of functions - some mentioned in the other answers; it breaks food into smaller pieces so we can swallow, it mixes food with the enzyme amylase to begin the chemical digestion of carbohydrates, but one other important function is that by chewing, the mouth increases the surface area to volume ratio of the food particles.  This provides more surface area for enzymes to act on, and therefore, speeds up the rate of digestion throughout the digestive system.
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Well, Presently no functions are established. The theories about its unctions are there. It is said that it was functional once when human skills regarding obtaining food were primitive and they have to consume only vegitaton for food. The cellulose contained in this vegitation is not normally digested but when the apendex was functional its role was for digestion of cellulose and other such complex substance. With improvement in Food skills the cellulose part decreased and now we don't consumed scrub and natural selection eliminated the genes or they went dormant as 97% DNA is without known function.
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Debra D is right.  I was actually watching a show about this and I cant remember the exact amount of saliva we produce in a day but it is an enormous amount and we dont dribble while we are awake because we are swallowing continually.  When we are asleep however our swallowing reflexes are not present and we dribble.
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SALIVA-Survival of the sickest