Work in cadmium (Cd) smelter and smoking cigarettes damages teeth and oral mucosa which are protected by tissue and salivary glycoconjugates: glycoproteins, glycolipids, and proteoglycans. We worked out a rat model imitating human "environmental" and "occupational" exposure to cadmium using 5 mg Cd and 50 mg Cd/l in drinking water, respectively. In submandibulary glands of exposed to Cd rats, we found the time and dose dependent accumulation of Cd and simultanous decrease in activity of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase (HEX). In homogenates of submandibulary glands of control rats, beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase showed the highest activity. The activities of alpha-mannosidase and beta-galactosidase were very low. None of these exoglycosidases were inhibited by Cd even at 44 mM concentration.