Keeping up with your oral and dental health means brushing and flossing on a daily basis. These practices are necessary in order to keep the gums, teeth, and tongue free from harmful bacteria that can lead to infections, such as gum disease or tooth decay. Though brushing and flossing are two important factors in proper upkeep of your oral health; would you ever imagine that saliva also plays an important role? Without proper amounts of saliva, food wouldn’t taste as good, digestion wouldn’t be as easy, and the risk of tooth decay and gum disease would increase.
Aside from aiding in digestion, saliva is needed to keep our oral health in check. Saliva is the body’s natural defense against tooth decay; as it is able to neutralize acid and clear sugars from the mouth, two substances that can lead to decaying teeth. This means that, without the necessary amounts of saliva, you could be at risk of tooth decay and other oral health problems. But this begs the question, just how much saliva is enough?
Measuring Up
Medical professionals say that there are various tell-tale signs that your body is not producing enough saliva. Constant dry or peeling lips, oral yeast infections, difficulty chewing or swallowing, and digestive problems may all be symptoms of your body needing more saliva. To help induce saliva production and avoiding dry mouth, drinking water with lemon juice throughout the day can be helpful.
With all this in mind, if you suffer from the common symptoms of a lack of saliva, it’s a good idea to consult qualified dentist, such as Dr. Siegel, to ensure that your oral health has not been damaged. Getting help is easy, just call or email our office to schedule an appointment.
