eli5 Are the enzymes in our saliva strong enough to “digest/dissolves” foods in our mouth , only by themselves over a long period of time ?

Question

Sorry if i’m not clear enough , english is my second language , my question is , for example : i I took a bite , and never swallowed , would the enzyme in my saliva be strong enough to dissolve the bite (over a long periode of time ) ?

In: 3

Answer 1

No. The concentration of enzymes in saliva is very low and it’s mostly amylase; amylase helps with digestion of starches, which is helped by the neutral pH in your mouth. Other things like fats, complex carbohydrates and proteins will not get broken down in your mouth simply due to the action of your saliva.