Final answer:
The chorda tympani, a branch of the facial nerve, is responsible for taste and salivation in the anterior two-thirds of the tongue.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nerve responsible for the sense of taste and salivation in the anterior oral cavity is the chorda tympani, which is a branch of the facial nerve. This nerve connects to taste buds in the anterior two-thirds of the tongue. The facial nerve is responsible for carrying taste sensations from these taste buds to the brain. Additionally, the glossopharyngeal nerve is responsible for taste in the posterior one-third of the tongue, while the vagus nerve is associated with the taste buds in the extreme posterior part of the tongue and is also responsible for the gag reflex.