If your mouth is dry, chances are that you haven’t been drinking enough water. When your body is properly hydrated, your mouth can more adequately protect itself from harm. Brushing your teeth and flossing regularly are important, but drinking enough water works with those tasks to keep your mouth clean and healthy. Dehydration and dry mouth can cause numerous harmful effects on your body, and your mouth in particular. Let’s look at a couple of these in more detail.
Dry Mouth Can Cause Bacteria and Plaque Growth
When you drink enough water, your salivary glands produce saliva that coats the inside of your mouth. This saliva coating washes away food debris that can linger on the surface areas of your mouth, as well as harmful plaque. Food particles, if left in your mouth without saliva, can feed acid-producing bacteria that can cause serious conditions like gum disease and cavities. Plaque, if left on the teeth, hardens into tartar that can only be removed by a dental professional.
Bad Breath
Halitosis, the medical term for bad breath, can be caused by dehydration. When your glands produce enough saliva, it washes away loose food particles that can get stuck in your teeth and gums. When you don’t have enough saliva in your mouth, these particles build up and produce bad smelling odors. If you’ve ever smelled your breath after drinking alcohol or coffee without enough water in your body, you know what we’re talking about. Bad breath can be harmful to your personal and professional relationships as well as your own self-esteem. Always be sure to hydrate and brush your teeth and bad breath should be a thing of the past!
If you’re concerned you may be dehydrated, first drink a glass of water. After that, be sure to contact us if you’re still concerned.
