Why does your mouth water when you smell something good?

Dear Dr. Cory:

Why does your mouth water when you smell something good?

Tana Schmidt Osakis, Minnesota

Dear Tana,

The fluid your body produces when your mouth "waters" is called saliva (suh-LIE-vuh). Every day, little glands in your mouth produce about one to one and one-half quarts of this fluid. It keeps your mouth wet so that you can chew and swallow food more easily.

When you see, smell, taste, or even think about a food you like, your mouth makes more saliva. That is your mouth's way of getting ready to eat the food.

But if you see, smell, or taste a food you don't like, your mouth won't produce nearly as much saliva. Then it is very difficult to swallow food because your mouth is too dry. That's why you feel like gagging when you eat a food you don't like!

Please send you questions about children's health to: "Ask Doctor Cory" U*S*Kids P.O. Box 567 Indianapolis, IN 46206

This column is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor.