Saliva is the clear, slightly slippery liquid that your mouth makes constantly throughout the day. You might notice it most when you're chewing food, when you see something delicious, or when you wake up in the morning.

Saliva does important work that you probably never think about. It starts breaking down your food the moment you begin chewing, making it easier to swallow and digest. It keeps your mouth clean by washing away food particles and fighting bacteria. It even helps you taste things: your taste buds need moisture to detect flavors, which is why food tastes bland when your mouth feels dry.

Your salivary glands produce about a liter of saliva every day, though you barely notice because you swallow it automatically. When you're nervous or excited, your body might produce less saliva, giving you that dry-mouth feeling before a big presentation. When you're hungry and smell pizza or fresh cookies, your mouth might start salivating, making extra saliva in preparation for eating.

The adjective form is salivary, as in salivary glands. People sometimes say an animal is salivating when it's drooling with anticipation, like a dog watching someone eat a sandwich.