Which has more germs: tears or saliva?

Question

Which is more disgusting?

Answer 1

Saliva

Tears are mostly salt water and have few germs. With all sorts of food going through your mouth and all the bacteria you are cultivating between your teeth the human mouth is much more disgusting and full of germs. Then don't forget that the mucus from your nose drains into your mouth so you can add that as well.

The tears have to be clean or a bacterial infection can affect your vision. "Some of the substances in lacrimal fluid fight against bacterial infection as a part of the immune system"

Many people believe that tears can be a sign of intelligence: "Most mammals will produce tears in response to extreme pain or other stimuli, but crying as an emotional reaction is considered by many to be a uniquely human phenomenon, possibly due to humans' advanced self-awareness. Some studies suggest that elephants and gorillas may cry as well."

Over production of salvia is an indicator of hunger or rabies.

The Incas referred to silver as the "tears of the moon".
Jade is sometimes known as "tears of the Buddha".
In the bible and other religions notariy figures are often depected as crying. The shortest verse in the bible is “Jesus wept.”

“Contents of Saliva
In animals, saliva is produced in and secreted from the salivary glands. It is a fluid containing:
Water
Electrolytes: (2-21 mmol/L sodium, 10-36 mmol/L potassium, 1.2-2.8 mmol/L calcium, 0.08-0.5 mmol/L magnesium, 5-40 mmol/L chloride, 2-13 mmol/L bicarbonate, 1.4-39 mmol/L phosphate)
Mucus. Mucus in saliva mainly consists of mucopolysaccharides and glycoproteins;
Antibacterial compounds (thiocyanate, hydrogen peroxide, and secretory immunoglobulin A)
Various enzymes. The major enzymes found in human saliva are α-amylase (EC3.2.1.1), lysozyme (EC3.2.1.17), and lingual lipase (EC3.1.1.3). Amylase starts the digestion of starch and lipase fat before the food is even swallowed. It has a pH optima of 7.4. Lingual lipase has a pH optimum ~4.0 so it is not activated till entering an acidic environment. Lysozyme acts to lyse bacteria. Human saliva contains also salivary acid phosphatases A+B (EC3.1.3.2), N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanine amidase (EC3.5.1.28), NAD(P)H dehydrogenase-quinone (EC1.6.99.2), salivary lactoperoxidase (EC1.11.1.7), superoxide dismutase(EC1.15.1.1), glutathione transferase (EC2.5.1.18), class 3 aldehyde dehydrogenase (EC1.2.1.3), glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (EC5.3.1.9), and tissue kallikrein (EC3.4.21.35). The presence of these products causes saliva to sometimes have a foul odor. “

“A common belief is that saliva contained in the mouth has natural disinfectants, which leads people to believe it is beneficial to "lick their wounds". Researchers at the University of Florida at Gainesville have discovered a protein called nerve growth factor (NGF) in the saliva of mice. Wounds doused with NGF healed twice as fast as untreated and unlicked wounds; therefore, saliva does have some curative powers in some species. NGF has not been found in human saliva; however, researchers find human saliva contains such antibacterial agents as secretory IgA, lactoferrin, and lactoperoxidase (2). It has not been shown that human licking of wounds disinfects them, but licking is likely to help clean the wound by removing larger contaminants such as dirt and may help to directly remove infective bodies by brushing them away.”

Crying can be seen as a sign of respect in almost any culture. While in Western Society and many others spiting is a sign disrespect or even hate.

The purpose of salvia is to protect the teeth, aid in digestion, and lubricate the mouth. If a human bites another human there is a major threat of infection because of all the bacteria in the salvia.

The purpose of tears are to lubricate, clean and protect the eyes. They are clean and don’t have as many hostile contents (like bacteria and digestive enzymes) as salvia does.

Answer 2

Saliva is way more disgusting and most likely has more germs because your mouth is exposed to far more germs.

Answer 3

saliva. it's not disgusting. it's normal. tear is like water and salt.

Answer 4

Of course saliva it has bacteria!!!! tears just have salt.

Answer 5

Tears aren't gross, just salty, which i don't think tastes that good. Saliva is full of bacteria

Answer 6

saliva

Answer 7

saliva, because the mouth is teeming with bacteria.

Answer 8

saliva... because its in your mouth n you put alot of objects in your mouth i dont think alot of objects goes into your eyes...

Answer 9

your mouth, your butt right now is cleaner than your mouth, I'm not kidding ask anyone