What is the function of the salivary glands in mammalian digestion?

1) Saliva – the secret of the salivary glands – is 98% water and creates a slightly alkaline moist environment in the oral cavity. Saliva moistens and disinfects food. In the saliva of mammals there is a natural antibiotic – lysozyme, which kills bacteria.
2) In saliva there are enzymes – amylase and maltase, which in a weakly alkaline medium break down carbohydrate starch into glucose.
3) Saliva contains a substance called mucin, which sticks food together into a food lump.