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An update on minor salivary gland secretions
Author(s) -
Eliasson Lars,
Carlén Anette
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
european journal of oral sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.802
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1600-0722
pISSN - 0909-8836
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0722.2010.00766.x
Subject(s) - saliva , salivary gland , secretion , dry mouth , mucin , endocrinology , physiology , dentistry , medicine , biology , pathology
Eliasson L, Carlén A. An update on minor salivary gland secretions.
Eur J Oral Sci 2010; 118: 435–442. © 2010 Eur J Oral Sci In this article, the literature on minor salivary gland secretion rates, composition, and function is reviewed. Measurements of the minor salivary gland secretion rates and composition are complicated, and the secretions display large biological variability. Despite this, some characteristics of these secretions have been found repeatedly in independent investigations. Minor gland saliva varies between different oral sites. Buccal saliva flow is higher than labial saliva flow, which in turn is usually higher than the palatal gland secretion rate. It is generally agreed that minor gland saliva is important for the whole saliva composition, and especially for the secretory immunoglobulin A and mucins. The secretion from these glands seems also important for subjective feelings of dry mouth and general wellbeing. Further research is essential for understanding the role of these secretions for oral, as well as for general, health.