How Dehydration Affects Your Oral Health

How Dehydration Affects Your Oral Health

You’re still going to be just as active, especially with all of the activities and yard work you want to get done. Here is a quick look at how dehydration can impact your oral health.

With cooler temperatures on the way, it can be easy to drink less water. After all, we all know how important it is to stay hydrated on a hot day. But about when it is chillier outside? You’re still going to be just as active, especially with all of the activities and yard work you want to get done. Here is a quick look at how dehydration can impact your oral health

What Is it? 

Fatigue is one common side effect of dehydration. A simple solution that many people resort to is to supercharge themselves with caffeine to chase away that groggy feeling. But coffee and tea won’t help you as much as plain old water. Even if you prefer the taste of sparkling water to flat water, nothing is as good at quenching your thirst as water does. After all, your body needs water to function, and it will have painful ways to demand that you supply it with more. Illness can make you dehydrated, as can certain medications that you are taking. Even on a cold day, if you spend enough time in the sun or are heated up by strenuous activity, you need to do what you can to rehydrate as necessary. 

What Are Some Symptoms?

Dry mouth and dry tongue are two signs that you need more water. There’s a difference between being thirsty and being parched. If you are thirsty, it’s time to get a drink. If you’re parched, especially after you wake up in the morning, then it can point to more serious oral health problems than not enough water in your system. If you feel dizzy, have trouble in the bathroom despite the urge to go, feel a headache, or you are confused or disoriented, then these are all common symptoms of being dehydrated. 

What It Does to You 

When you don’t get enough water, you can’t produce as much saliva. On the surface, this won’t seem like a problem. But it is: your saliva helps keep your teeth clean and fights off bacteria that gets into your mouth. Without some way to deal with this bacteria, such as a responsible oral care regimen, you run the risk of lingering infections, tooth decay, gum disease, and other unpleasant conditions that could impact your overall well-being.  

KEEP YOUR MOUTH HAPPY WITH ANNAPOLIS DENTAL CARE!

Whether it’s a regular check-up you need or a tooth extracted, Annapolis Dental Care has the expertise and compassion to work with you on improving your oral health. Your comfort and health are our top priorities, and so we go above and beyond to make our patients happy and give them the highest quality care. To set up an appointment today, please give us a call at 410-571-5014 or visit us online. For more oral health tips for you and your family follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube! We are always looking for new patients, so if you live in Arnold, Annapolis, or Anne Arundel County, MD, come on down!

 

 

This entry was posted on Friday, September 6th, 2019 at 7:22 pm. Both comments and pings are currently closed.