The invention is directed to compositions and methods for preparing an artificial oral tissue. The artificial oral tissue is prepared using a biocompatible substrate seeded with salivary gland cells that develop to produce a salivary gland tissue layer with a prototypal salivary system and a prototypal secretory system. The salivary gland cells proliferate, mature and differentiate into a salivary gland structure that are analogous to its in vivo counterpart.