What are Von Ebner Glands?

While it’s not something most people think about (with it being an everyday part of our lives), saliva helps us digest, taste, speak, and protect tooth enamel, which is why dry mouth is such a great concern when it happens. However, there is actually more to the role saliva plays than meets the eye, with there even being more than one kind of salivary gland necessary for human beings to get by. If you’re curious to know more about these glands and their role in helping you enjoy the foods you eat, check out our quick guide below.

The Basics of Von Ebner Glands

To begin, saliva fulfills several functions to preserve the health of one’s oral cavity, starting with protecting the gums and teeth from acids and bacteria, lubricates the mouth, starts the digestion process, and has a major role when it comes to taste. There are six minor and major salivary glands, and they’re found in the lips, cheeks, mouth floor, palate, tongue, and pharynx. Regarding the Von Ebner salivary glands (or serous glands), they’re minor salivary glands at the back of the tongue, where they secrete the digestive enzyme amylase, which helps people break food down while chewing . However, these glands are also unique for their other purpose, which is aiding your sense of taste.

Taste and the Salivary Glands

The human tongue has more than one thousand taste buds located within sponge-like bumps called papillae, the types of which include circumvallate, foliate, fungiform, and filiform. Von Ebner salivary glands can be found near the tongue’s circumvallate and foliate papillae, located toward the back end of the tongue. Whenever you drink or eat, the liquid the glands secrete moves food particles onto and over the papillae, sending flavor to your taste receptors and to the taste-oriented part of the brain.

Per research published by the International Journal of Oral Health Dentistry , it’s been found that Von Ebner salivary glands also release proteins unlike others found within the mouth, and they’re not unlike ones located in the nasal cavity, which assists olfactory receptors, thereby causing scientists to believe these glands could play a greater role in connecting taste receptors with flavor.

Conditions Affecting Taste

When it comes to how the functions of Von Ebner and other glands can be disrupted, a person’s sense to taste can be greatly affected by a loss of saliva or a loss of tongue papillae, with the most common cause of such changes being dry mouth. These changes in the production of saliva are fairly common in senior patients and may even be the result of particular medications as well as neck or head radiation for cancer treatment. For those who suspect they’re suffering from such a condition, seek the assistance of an oral health care professional, who can help you develop a treatment plan for alleviating symptoms and maintaining strong oral health.

Looking for ways to save money on your dental bills? Our New Hampshire discount dental plan can save you as much 20 percent off your dental bills. For more information, click here.

Copyright: tomwang / 123RF Stock Photo