Effects of environmental temperature on saliva flow rate and secretion of protein, amylase and mucin 5B

•Short exposure (10 min) to different temperatures leads to changes in saliva.•Saliva flow rate increases with decreasing temperature.•Exposure to cold (4 °C) increases saliva protein secretion. The aim of this study is to evaluate the short term effects of environmental temperature on saliva flow rate and composition. In a cross-over study design 20 subjects (18–25 years old, 14 women, 6 men) were exposed in randomized order at different days to three temperatures (4 °C, 21 °C and 37 °C). Five minutes after a subject was exposed to the test temperature, collection of resting saliva was started for 5 min at the same temperature. Saliva flow rate, pH, viscosity, protein concentration, mucin 5B concentration and amylase activity were measured. Exposure to 4 °C resulted in an increase of the saliva flow rate (p