Don’t worry darling, it’s just spit. 😉 Shown above: a bacterial biofilm from saliva. Saliva is about 99% water. The remaining 1% contains a range of substances like digestive enzymes, mucus-forming proteins, and antimicrobial agents—and we of course can’t forget about microbes. 🦠 Did you know your saliva has a microbiome? 🤯 Your oral cavity is home to an assortment of mini microbiomes, with microbes specialized for the niche they occupy, including dental plaque, your tongue, cheeks, throat, tonsils, and saliva. Collectively, these make up the oral microbiome. A few fun facts about the salivary microbiome: 1️⃣ This community of microbes is established early in life (around a year) 👶, and remains relatively stable long-term despite the many changes we undergo in life like shifts in diet, oral hygiene, and even romantic partners.¹ 2️⃣ Genetics do not have a significant role in shaping the salivary microbiome. Instead, the dominant factor appears to be environment, with those ...