eli5: Why do you produce so much saliva when you eat sour food?
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Your body is trying to protect itself
You perceive acidic food as being sour. While minor acids for a short period are harmless, more intense acids or having a lot can lead to irritation or even mouth ulcers. By diluting the acid with saliva, your body is protecting itself the best it can
Saliva is like a lubricant, when you eat something your mouth covers the chewed food in saliva so that when you swallow you dont choke.
The sour flavor is from acid. The response to produce more saliva helps dilute the acid to protect your teeth and your digestive tract.
The sour food has a whole bunch of excess protons going wild and your saliva gathers them up and gives them something to do other than eat away at your body.
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