A review on the role of salivary MUC5B in oral health.

Background: The salivary glycoprotein MUC5B plays a versatile role in maintaining oral health. It contributes to lubrication, pellicle formation, antimicrobial defense, and water retention, and its glycans are an important nutrient for oral bacteria. This review aimed to describe the role of MUC5B in oral health and examine changes in its levels and composition in cases of hyposalivation and xerostomia.