Why is it essential to keep our mouths hydrated? There is nothing like having a dry mouth. It can feel parched, tacky, and just blah! Did you know that being hydrated can also help your mouth and teeth stay healthy? Let’s discuss why, and some things to do to keep our mouths and teeth feeling their best as we get into spring and summer.
Saliva is more than just spit. The salivary glands in the mouth produce this watery fluid to keep our mouths moist, and you have to stay hydrated to produce enough saliva. These are some of the essential roles that saliva plays in systemic and oral health and digestion:
Our bodies depend on water to function. Believe it or not, humans are made up of 60-70% water!
Staying hydrated helps your body function and deliver and distribute nutrients to the organs and other tissues. It also allows the body to eliminate waste, your skin takes on a healthy glow, and your muscles move.
But we are focused on water's health benefits to your mouth and teeth. Human saliva is 99% water, and when saliva levels decrease, you experience dry mouth, which some people deal with daily.
Healthy mouths in humans can act as their own guide for when and how much water they need. When you feel thirsty, your body is telling you that you need water.
Dehydration affects the health of your mouth and teeth. The American Dental Association notes that the benefits of staying hydrated are essential to your oral hygiene.
When your mouth is often dry, it increases the risk of dental caries and may make you more susceptible to fungal infections because your mouth cannot keep the germs under control. A dry mouth can be a very irritating condition. When your saliva supply runs low, a dry mouth can lead to bad breath, oral diseases, tooth decay, mouth sores, and infections.
Xerostomia is the technical condition of not having enough saliva to moisten the mouth. Most people have dry mouths on occasion, like when they are stressed and have to speak in front of a crowd, but some people have it persistently. It can make chewing, swallowing, and talking very difficult.
You may not notice symptoms until you feel extremely thirsty, so how can you tell if your child is getting dehydrated?
Mild dehydration can cause thirst, a dry, sticky mouth, darker or less frequent urination, headaches, and muscle cramps. More serious dehydration in older children and adults may include:
One of the most common reasons for babies to become dehydrated is when they are sick. These are some of the symptoms a baby may exhibit when they are dehydrated:
Spring brings warmer weather, and it definitely gets hot in the summer! Here in Arizona, hot is the norm!
When it is hot, your body tries to cool itself by sweating. The perspiration on our skin acts as a temperature regulator. The sweat beads evaporate and remove some heat from your body with this process. This energy is another awe-inspiring thing about our bodies.
The trade-off is that sweating causes water loss for other important functions. The body becomes dehydrated if evaporation is not replaced with an equal or increased water intake. If you or your child sweats a lot, you’ll also need to replenish electrolytes.
Drinking water is the recipe for staying hydrated. Here are some tips for overcoming dehydration:
Drinking water is hands down the best way to stay hydrated and promotes oral and overall health. Chilled or at room temperature, water keeps your mouth and breath fresh by washing away odor and bacteria.
Drinking six to eight glasses of water daily is a good goal. It helps keep the mouth moist. So, drink plenty of water to help prevent dry mouth or bad breath.
Water should be chosen over fruit juices and carbonated drinks. Juices can be sugary, promoting plaque and dental caries, while carbonated beverages are acidic and can harm tooth enamel.
Some sports drinks can be a good source of electrolytes when your body is losing water. Sports drinks are excellent at providing hydration and energy, replacing electrolytes, and increasing concentration during intense physical activity. Just make sure you choose those without added sugar or acids to get the best possible benefit from the fluids.
Unfortunately, sports drinks that are very acidic and have added sugars cause accelerated tooth erosion, which leads to extensive tooth decay. Learn more about how this happens and safe ways to stay hydrated and protect your teeth in our previous article here.
Drinking water with a meal helps moisten the mouth and make food easier to swallow. Swishing water after meals helps remove leftover food debris and prevent dry mouth.
Drinking water and staying hydrated are priorities for better oral health and overall well-being. There is a long list of benefits for your mouth and entire body. Replacing water during hot weather is extra important!
Help your child keep their mouth healthy and happy! Our team at Jungle Roots can help you teach your child how to keep their mouth healthy and decrease the risk of other dental problems. It’s our privilege to be your child’s dental home!
