Does saliva have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects?

Our saliva has certain bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effects. For example, when inflammation occurs in the mouth, it generally recovers faster. This is because our saliva itself has bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effects. Saliva contains lysozyme and antibacterial substances in histones that can kill bacteria. Of course, saliva cannot kill pathogens. If the disease is serious, it must be treated in time.

Saliva only removes oral bacteria

The lysozyme contained in saliva is mainly targeted at common oral bacteria, and has the effect of inhibiting the growth and reproduction of bacteria in the mouth. If it is only for oral hygiene, saliva can play a certain bactericidal and anti-inflammatory role.

Saliva cannot kill pathogens

Although saliva contains certain antibacterial substances, these antibacterial substances only have strong antibacterial activity at very high concentrations in vitro. However, the concentration in saliva is extremely low and cannot kill pathogens.

Saliva has a limited antibacterial range

The antibacterial substances in saliva have a limited range of action. Even if it can really kill pathogens, there are many types of pathogens, and the lysozyme in saliva is mainly targeted at certain types of bacteria. Therefore, it is unreliable to rely on saliva to kill bacteria and reduce inflammation.

Saliva sterilization may be harmful to health

Because the mouth contains other pathogens, the antibacterial substances in saliva can only kill a certain type of bacteria in the mouth, while other marginal bacteria that may make people sick (such as herpes virus) still survive. At this time, if saliva is used to disinfect the wound, the pathogens may be brought to the wound, causing wound infection.

Tips

From the above, it is not difficult to see that using saliva to kill bacteria and reduce inflammation not only fails to achieve the desired effect, but also poses potential health risks. Therefore, if there is a wound, it must be treated with formal disinfection. Do not try to save trouble by just applying some saliva.