Viscoelastic properties of saliva from different glands

The viscoelastic properties of saliva from different glands were characterized using small amplitude oscillatory shear with a narrow gap parallel plate system. Mechanical spectra of stimulated and unstimulated human submandibular-sublingual saliva (HSMSL) and human parotid saliva (HPS) were compared. The HSMSL saliva had higher modulus and longer relaxation times due to higher mucus content than the parotid saliva. Unstimulated saliva showed the same behaviour when compared to stimulated saliva, but only after aresting period of 20 minutes