The relationship between saliva and taste

Saliva is related to taste because the relevant receptors that transport food molecules into taste buds need saliva to secrete Normal saliva softens food and makes it easier to swallow It also breaks down the structure of different foods and releases these molecules The tongue contains a cluster of taste buds that can distinguish between sweet and sour When aromatic molecules bind to taste receptors, signals representing different tastes are transmitted to the brain The saliva of healthy people is mainly composed of water, and also contains important enzymes that can dissolve the complex chemical structure of different foods Saliva and taste buds also play a key role in identifying smooth or rough food textures Enzymes called salivary amylases help break down starch from foods such as steamed bread and rice Scientific research has shown that the amount of enzymes in each person's saliva is different People with high levels of salivary amylase tend to be more sensitive to the taste and texture of a particular food People with a small amount of this enzyme may feel a completely different taste and texture When eating spicy food such as pepper, the interaction between saliva and taste will also make people's mouth burn This food is associated with heat and even pain, because saliva is used as a catalytic enzyme between oral pain receptors and food chemicals such as capsaicin Saliva and taste also release endorphins from the brain of people who eat these spicy foods The sensitivity to this spicy taste is generally considered hereditary Saliva and taste are also linked to the nervous system and make certain tastes related to certain kinds of food A common symptom of disease or injury that affects taste and olfactory ability is abnormal secretion or thickening of saliva Salivary glands sometimes form cysts because of damage to the side of the gland In addition, even when saliva secretion is normal, taste loss may occur due to frequent respiratory infections and the growth of benign tumors of the nose called nasal polyps.